Authorities in Cass County arrested 32 people on suspicion of participating, viewing or promoting cockfighting Saturday at a farm near Louisville.
Officers from the Cass County Sheriff's Office and Nebraska State Patrol went to the farm at 11317 U.S. Highway 50 about 12:30 a.m. after the Nebraska Humane Society received an anonymous tip. Officers arrived and spotted numerous cars parked on the property, Cass County Sheriff William Brueggemann said in a written statement.
Officers spoke with two property owners who advised that "they had no clue why there were so many people on their property," Brueggemann said. Officers gained consent from the owners to investigate.
"Upon approaching the east side of the property numerous people flooded out of a barn and took off into the trees and fields to the north of the property," Brueggemann said.
"Officers detained as many as they could, but many got away in the fields to the north and east of the property."
After receiving a search warrant for the property, Cass County deputies, Cass County Emergency Management and the Nebraska Humane Society seized 186 live roosters. Also found were 11 dead roosters and another rooster that had to be euthanized at the scene.
Inside of the barn, many items were seized in relation to cock fighting, Brueggemann said, including blades and syringes. They also located a fighting pen
The roosters found inside the barn were in small boxes or crates. Many of the birds had fresh injuries sustained while fighting.
