LITTLE ROCK — Six Waldo residents, including a nephew of the town's police chief, face charges after police broke up a bloody dogfight in a field behind a house.
Chief Robert Philson said Friday that a pit bull terrier was locked onto another pit bull terrier's throat when an officer arrived on the scene near Arkansas Highway 98 in response to a neighbor's complaint.
Philson said both dogs were tied up, but one got loose and started going after the other dog again, prompting an officer to use a taser gun on it. That dog fled, and police had not found it as of Friday afternoon. He advised residents to call police if they see a stray pit bull terrier.
The fight took place Wednesday night in a ring marked off by hay outside a barn. Both the hay and a mat on the ground had blood on them when police arrived, the chief said.
Philson said William Shane Saunders, 20, Deandre Dismuke, 18, and Jamie Bernard Martin, 28, are each charged with one count of felony dogfighting and one count of misdemeanor animal cruelty. Dismuke and Martin are free on $2,500 bond each.
Saunders, who was already on parole, remained in the Columbia County jail in Magnolia on Friday,police said. The chief wasn't sure of what Saunders had been convicted but said the crime wasn't a violent one.
Darren Lamond Wilson, 37, Sandra C. Clark, 30, and Dedrick Philson, 26, are each charged with one misdemeanor dogfighting charge that relates to watching the event. The chief said Dedrick Philson is his nephew.
Chief Philson said the captured dog appeared to have bumps, bruises and cuts to the legs, neck and body. It is expected to live, he said. The chief didn't think the escaped dog was hurt. Authorities believe there also was a third dog but haven't found it.
Philson said those charged with the felony count probably will enter pleas Tuesday in Columbia County Circuit Court. The misdemeanor defendants are free on citations and are to appear in Waldo District Court on Nov. 14.
Philson said he did not know if the organizers were charging people to watch the fight. If any gambling was going on, he said, "they won't own up to it."
He said authorities had been getting complaints about dogfighting, but participants have scanners and often break up when they think police are coming.
Waldo is about six miles north of Magnolia.
Arkansas, Pages 8 on 10/29/2007