UCSO breaks up a cockfight near Hermiston
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
UMATILLA COUNTY – Responding to a report of a cockfight in progress, the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office raided a property at 31057 (corrected by UCSO from 31061) Klaus Road in the Hermiston area Sunday night. UCSO Capt. Sterrin Ward reports that when the initial deputy arrived about 20 people, including children, ran from the property.
Francisco Hernandez Ramirez, 49, of Kennewick was taken into custody. He faces a felony charge of cockfighting. Deputies seized more than 30 fighting roosters along with other evidence. The investigation is ongoing.
“UCSO reminds the public that cockfighting is a Class C felony,” Ward stated. “If you are aware of an event within Umatilla County, please report it to your local law enforcement agency.”
Oregon law states that a person commits the crime of cockfighting if he or she owns, possesses, keeps, rears, trains, buys, sells or advertises or otherwise offers to sell a fighting bird; promotes or participates in or performs services in furtherance of the conducting of a cockfight (with services that include transporting spectators to a cockfight, handling fighting birds, organizing or advertising or refereeing a cockfight); or acting as a stakeholder for money wagered in a cockfight; keeps, uses or manages, or accepts payments of admission to a place for the conducting of a cockfight; or suffers or permits a place in the possession or control of the person to be occupied, kept, or used for conducting a cockfight.
Photo of two of the fighting roosters seized from the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office.
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