Cockfighting Birds Discovered During Warrant Sweep

The Riverside County Sheriff Deputies recovered nearly a dozen birds they say are used for cockfighting from a Mecca home during Operation Thunderbird.

Deputies searched a home on the 91-000 block of Katherine Drive in Mecca.

Deputies recovered 10 roosters and four hens.

Cockspurs and other items indicative of illegal cockfighting were located at a home, deputies said.

Riverside County Animal Services euthanized the roosters and saved hens.

“Unlike a stray car or dog, a rooster cannot be rehabilitated and you can’t really adopt out a cock-fighting rooster because they’ll only fall into nefarious situations in the future,” said John Welsh, spokesman for Animal Services.

Deputies didn’t arrest anyone for suspected cockfighting, but they took George Casillas,18, to jail on suspecion of weapons violations.

Officers also questioned his brother.

When KESQ talked with Antonio Casillas, he told us his family didn’t plan to keep the birds.

“We just had them here to sell them and for a show but they arrested my brother because he had guns,” said Casillas, 14.

A spokeswoman said the Sheriff’s Department is investigating if any cockfighting took place at the home.

She said they’ll press cockfighting charges at the end of their investigation.