KELSO - The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission said officers have discovered a suspected cockfighting operation in Desha County.
The commission said in a news release that 29 people were arrested Sunday in a rural area of Desha County near Kelso.
The commission said in the Monday release that two wildlife officers were on a routine patrol when they found a large gathering of people. Approaching the scene, officers discovered 20 live chickens and 10 dead chickens.
The commission said officers arrested 29 men on misdemeanor animal-cruelty charges. Two children were also at the scene, but they were not detained. Ten people also were charged with fleeing a wildlife officer.
Authorities said the suspects are due in court April 1 in Dumas.
Arkansas, Pages 13 on 03/07/2014