15+ arrested, 50 cars seized, guns, drugs found at massive Granville County cockfighting ring, sheriff says

CREEDMOOR, N.C. (WNCN) — Unsuspecting operators of a massive Granville County cockfighting operation were at the illegal business — abusing animals for betting, charging admission to the arena, and selling alcohol with the whiff of marijuana smoke in the air late Saturday morning, the Granville County Sheriff said.

But, in their midst was an undercover officer, and just two hours later around 1 p.m., dozens of deputies were raiding the Lawrence Road cockfighting ring with a search warrant, according to Granville County Sheriff Robert Fountain.

By Saturday night, more than 15 suspects were arrested, 50 vehicles and thousands of dollars were seized, Fountain said. Guns and drugs were also found and seized at the location at 1009 Lawrence Road, he said.

Fountain did not have an estimate for the amount of seized money but said $10,000 in cash was found in just one car at the site, just two miles north of Purnell Road and the New Light community — and less than a half-mile from the Wake County line.

The raid was too late for some animals — dead chickens were found on the property, but some were saved with the Durham County Animal Shelter taking care of the survivors.

Fountain said the cockfighting operation was brutal, with razor blades taped to the birds’ legs for the deadly fights. The operators at times injected the animals with adrenaline during fights and tossed the birds back into the ring to continue — despite them being near death, Fountain said.

The raid came just after a judge approved a search warrant following the undercover officer’s information, Fountains said.

The first arrest was “a guy at the gate taking money” for admission, Fountain said.

After the raid began, some people fled into nearby woods and after sundown, deputies were using drones and scanning for heat signatures. After 9 p.m., at least two more suspects were found using the drones, Fountain said.

Late Saturday night, Fountain said that U.S. Homeland Security was reviewing photos of the suspects — and had already requested one person for a detainer.

The sheriff said deputies would be at the scene overnight taking inventory of items and chasing down the lingering suspects.

The operation was busted after an initial tip and then the confirmation Saturday by the undercover investigator, the sheriff said.

Agencies that assisted in the operation included sheriff’s offices from Vance County, Franklin County and Durham County. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol and N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement also were part of the operation, Fountain said.

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