Two local men and a Ft. Worth man are facing charges after hitting cattle in Marshall County. Herminio Mendoza, Jamie Bell and Jackson Bell were arrested on June 3 after officers responded to a call about two vehicles hitting cattle in the road.
The trio weren’t arrested for hitting the cattle, that just seemed to be a freak accident. Thearrestscameafter officers arrived on scene and noticed something peculiar.
At approximately 5:44 a.m., Marshall County Deputies Jacob Stafford and Noah Conwayarrivedatthewreckage on Hwy 199 and Bowlin Road. Officers met Mendoza, a 60-year-old male from Ft. Worth, who stated that three cows ran out in front of his truck while he was traveling east. Unfortunately, Mendoza and the truck following Mendozawerenotabletostop fast enough to avoid hitting the cattle.
After Stafford advised dispatch to contact the Oklahoma Highway Patrol since it was an auto accident, Stafford heard some strange noises coming from Mendoza’s truck. Stafford heard the sound of “roosters coming from the back of Herminio’s white Dodge.”
OHP Trooper Darren Alexander arrived on scene to process the wreck, and Stafford informed him of the sounds he heard. Alexander informed Stafford that he could investigate the rooster sounds, since it wasn’t part of the accident.
Stafford approached Mendoza andaskedwherethecaravan was heading. Mendoza said an address on Coleman Road. The only problem with that answer was Coleman Road was several miles in the opposite direction. This made Stafford even more leery about the suspects’ intentions.
Stafford called out Mendoza on his story, and Mendoza admittedthattheywereactually heading to a residence on School Road to “show some chickens that were in the back of his truck.”
Stafford recognized the address on School Road as an address previously reported for hosting cock fights and asked Mendoza why they were heading there. Mendoza said he didn’t know the reason for heading to that particular address.
Stafford then asked to investigate the trailer and Mendoza opened the trailer. There were cages for chickens, but no chickens. Stafford then approached the other vehicle in the caravan.
When asked where they were headed, the male driver said Coleman Road, just like Mendoza originally stated. Stafford again noted that the caravan was going in the opposite direction to be heading to that address. The suspect driving the second truck said he didn’t know; he was just following Mendoza.
Stafford went back to Mendoza to get some more answers. He asked Mendoza if he had instruments typically used in cock fighting like gaffs or knives. Mendoza admitted to having them in the console of his truck.
AfterplacingMendozaunder arrest, Stafford obtained asearchwarrantfortheproperty on School Road. Stafford contacted other deputies, the Chickasaw Lighthorse Police andOklahomaGameWarden Trey Hale since there was a possibility of the officers encountering a large group on the premises.
The officers arrived at the residence to find the gate locked. Jackson and Jamie Bell approached the gate to inquire if the officers needed something.
Stafford informed the Bell brothers that he had a search warrant for the property. Allegedly, the brothers became irate and demanded to know what the search warrant encompassed.
Stafford attempted to handthemacopy,buttheyrefused to take it. Even though theywerebeingmouthy,they opened the gate and allowed officers access to the property.
Once officers attempted to go down the trail leading to the rear part of the property, Stafford alleged that Jamie becameirateagain.Hestated that the back of the property was his and officers didn’t have permission to search it.
Stafford informed Jamie that the search warrant encompassed the entire property. If it was listed on the address on the search warrant, the officers could have access.
While deputies searched the property, Jackson stayed inside the house with Lighthorse Police, but Jamie followed Stafford during the search. According to Stafford, while he was clearing the back part of the property, Jamie continued to act irate.
Deputy Joshua Paul informed Stafford they had found evidence of cock fighting. Allegedly, Jamie became even more irate and aggressive. At that point, officers detained him for everybody’s safety.
The search turned up 13 trailers that had been converted to hold chickens and cock fighting equipment. Theyallhadmultiplewooden cages made to hold a bird inside. Most of the cages had scales to weigh the chickens.
On the east side of the property, officers found a building with roll up doors and a dirt pad that formed the shape of an octagon. The “fighting ring” was surrounded by metal bleachers.
The southwest corner of the property had a makeshift first aid shack. It had a container full of first aid items.
Next to the first aid container were envelopes with numbered cards inside. The cards are commonly known in the cock fighting world as betting cards.
Stafford noticed feathers scatteredaroundtheringand some raked up in piles. He also noticed metal cages that matched the dirt impressions around the pit.
The building to the west of the fighting ring was a wooden shed that resembled a concession stand. It had multiple food items, memorabilia, notes, signs with prices and other objects. Stafford photographed the fighting ring and concession stand.
Once officers concluded the search, they were tasked with collecting the massive amounts of evidence.
Stafford numbered the trailers located on the property for evidence purposes. In trailer one, he located a loaded syringe with an unknown substance, a roll of string, scissors, and a scale.
Trailer number two contained photographs of people fighting chickens and a ledger. Inside trailer number seven, he located gaffs, string, and scissors. Trailer number 10 had six chickens locked in the cages that had been built into the trailer.
Located in one of the cages was a brown box, and inside the box was gaffs, string, scissors, and spur covers. Also, inside was a clear bag containing tape, string, and padded wrap. Near the bag was a loaded syringe with unknown substance.
Inside trailer 13, Stafford located 20 chickens locked in the cages. Trailer 15; packages of gaffs and a scale.
Deputy Stafford counted over 180 chickens. Most were in small cages by themselves. Some had baby chicks inside with them. The solo chickens had their cones cut off; a practice commonly seen with fighting chickens.
Mendoza was arrested for Owning/Keeping/Possessing/ Training Birds for Fighting. An online search found no Oklahoma priors.
JacksonBell,a52-year-old male from Madill is facing charges for Owning/Keeping/ Possessing/Training Birds for Fighting, Keeping Place/ Equipment/Facility for Cockfi ghting, Servicing/Facilitating Cockfight and Instigating/ Encouraging Cockfight. An online search only found Traffic Violations.
Jamie Bell, a 50-year-old male from Madill, was also arrested for Owning/Keeping/ Possessing/Training Birds for Fighting, Keeping Place/Equipment/Facility for Cockfighting, Servicing/ Facilitating Cockfight and Instigating/Encouraging Cockfight. An online search found priors for Transporting and Open Container and Traffic Violations.