8 arrested in massive cockfighting ring bust in Rainbow Valley
Active cockfighting ring raided in West Valley; 8 arrested
Maricopa County deputies arrested eight people and seized 157 roosters during a raid on an active cockfighting ring in Rainbow Valley. FOX 10's Jacob Luthi learns more about how animal fighting often goes hand-in-hand with other serious crimes.
RAINBOW VALLEY, Ariz. - Eight people have been arrested in a cockfighting ring bust in the southwest Valley over the weekend.
What we know:
Several people and cars fled the scene, "some crashing through fences," when Maricopa County deputies arrived to the 27000 block of S. 170th Ave on April 4 for reports of cockfighting in progress.
Officials said those eight people were detained as they were leaving the property.
Investigators found two cockfighting rings "with active fights in progress," 157 live roosters, several dead roosters on the ground and a dry-erase board with apparent betting activity. Cockfighting paraphernalia, sharp blades known as Gaffs, $18,000 in cash, four handguns, and an AR-15 rifle were also recovered from the scene.
What they're saying:
"They weren’t portable pins they were actually structures that were fixed on this property," Sgt. Joaquin Enriquez said. "So this property was used to hold these type of events."
As protocol, all 157 roosters were euthanized by certified veterinarians at the scene.
157 roosters recovered, 8 arrested in Valley cockfighting ring
Deputies recovered 157 live roosters and arrested eight people in a massive cockfighting ring bust in Rainbow Valley over the weekend.
Dig deeper:
The sheriff's office said animal fighting often goes hand-in-hand with other crimes, making it a serious public safety issue.
"You never see animal cruelty alone," Wayne Pacelle, the president of Animal Wellness Action said. "You always see illegal gambling. You often see money laundering, narcotics trafficking, illegal firearms."
Pacelle pushed a 1998 ballot measure that outlawed cockfighting in Arizona, one of the last states in the country to ban it.
"We still have persistent illegal animal fighting. We see it very prominently in border states where people are coming up from Mexico where cockfighting has been a long-standing practice," he added.
The backstory:
This is the second ring busted in 2026. Investigators said its unclear if this operation is connected to the cockfighting bust in Tonopah back in January where 34 live roosters were recovered, and several arrests were made. Two men have been indicted and are expected to go to trial later this year.
Illegal cockfighting ring, involving 34 live roosters, busted in Tonopah: MCSO
Deputies busted an active cockfighting ring at a Tonopah home Saturday, involving 34 live roosters.
"We take these cases very seriously, and we go out and respond. We need the public's help when they see or believe this type of activity is going on," Sgt. Enriquez said.
What's next:
All eight people involved are facing charges of being present at a cockfight. None of the people detained are believed to own the property, and the sheriff's office is working to identify the owner.
This remains an ongoing investigation.
Map of the area of the cockfighting bust.
The Source: Maricopa County Sheriff's Office