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Pahala cockfight 05-31-11

Hawai‘i Police Department
Vice Section, Area II
Lieutenant Sherry Bird
Phone: 326-4646, Ext. 226
May 31, 2011
Report No. C11014200

 

Media Release

Five men were arrested Sunday (May 29) at a cockfight in Ka‘ū.

Officers from the Area II Vice Section—assisted by detectives from the Area II Juvenile Aid and Criminal Investigations sections, the Area I Vice Section and the Criminal Intelligence Unit—served a search warrant shortly after noon Sunday at a macadamia nut orchard in Pāhala, where the cockfight was taking place.

Police observed 75 vehicles and about 150 people at the site. Officers located 20 dead roosters and recovered injured roosters, rooster boxes, gaffs, paraphernalia related to cockfighting and gambling records related to cockfighting. In addition, police seized $7,737 in cash for forfeiture.

The five men below were arrested and charged with the following offenses:

Patrick Takahashi, 31, of Waipahu with cruelty to animals, gambling and possessing gambling records
Keldon Sakata, 31, of Pāhala with three counts of cruelty to animals
Donovan Mattos, 37, of Nā‘ālehu with two counts of cruelty to animals
Modesto Gonzales, 69, of Ocean View with two counts of cruelty to animals
Edward Polido, 51, of Pāhala with gambling and possessing gambling records
Lieutenant Sherry Bird from the Area II Vice Section is urging the public to help prevent animal cruelty by reporting information about cockfights. “This time of year is considered cockfighting season,” she said, “but cockfighting is illegal.”

Persons with information about illegal cockfighting may call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or the Vice hotlines at 329-0423 in Kona or 934-8423 in Hilo. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.