Sunday morning raid busts dog fighting ring; 23 arrested

By The Banner staff

The Banner/STPNS

December 18, 2007

BERNICE, Louisiana (STPNS) -- Union Parish Sheriff Bob Buckley announced Monday that the Union Parish Sheriff's Office, along with Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries enforcement agents, raided a suspected dog fighting pit located at 430 Nate Hodge Road near Downsville.

An undercover operation began Sunday morning where a deputy went to a residence on Nate Hodge Road and discovered the dog fighting ongoing.

The deputy called in other deputies who surrounded the area. They discovered a number of people, pit bull dogs, a bloody dog fighting pit and a dead pit bull dog.

A search warrant had been issued and deputies found a large amount of dog fighting, paraphernalia, numerous firearms and 11 pit bull dogs.

Twenty-three individuals were arrested at the scene and all were charged with dog fighting which is a felony punishable by a fine of not less than $1,000 or more than $25,000 and/or one to 10 years in prison. Buckley said that there were other charges also.

Arrested were the following: Gerry D. Hanspard, II, dob 03/20/76, of 414 Nate Hodge Rd., Downsville - arrested on charges of Dog Fighting and Resisting an Officer;  Raymond C. Crow, dob 06/15/85, of 108 Crow St., Marion; arrested on charges of Dog Fighting;  Mario J. Wright, dob 12/16/58, of 414 Nute Hodge Rd., Downsville; arrested on charges of Dog Fighting, Simple Battery, two counts Failure to Pay Child Support and Failure to Appear (Contempt of Court);  Kerry Burks, dob 01/27/73, of 704 Jenkins St., Ruston; arrested on charges of Dog Fighting;  Tahgi T. Andrews, dob 04/24/77, of 301 Betty St., Farmerville; arrested on charges of Dog Fighting;  Tomario M. Bilberry, dob 01/28/84, of 607 Bernice St., Farmerville; arrested on charges of Dog Fighting;  Toriano E. Traylor, dob 02/16/79, of 1121 Marion Hwy., Apt. 44, Farmerville; arrested on charges of Dog Fighting;  Ronnie Hubbard, dob 01/09/72, of 5057 Hwy. 33, Marion; arrested on charges of Dog Fighting;  Christopher M. Lebel, dob 11/13/86, of 430 Nate Hodge Rd., Downsville; arrested on charges of Dog Fighting;  Louis C. Cage, dob 07/26/78, of 111 Cage Rd., Choudrant; arrested on charges of Dog Fighting;  Trumane Banks, dob 12/12/81; of 3112 Taylor St., Marion; arrested on charges of Dog Fighting;   Jason Q. Banks, dob 08/04/83, of 3112 Taylor St., Marion; arrested on charges of Dog Fighting;  Lorenzo C. Cage, dob 12/07/74, of 812 Eastland Ave., Ruston; arrested on charges of Dog Fighting;  Anthony B. Mazon, dob 07/18/72, of 1307 Arlington, Ruston; arrested on charges of Dog Fighting;  Cedric C. Dial, dob 11/12/75, of 1111 Williams Colony Rd., Downsville, arrested on charges of Dog Fighting;  Devery R. Moore, dob 10/07/89, of 3115 Kennon St., Ruston, arrested on charges of Dog Fighting;  Larivis R. Peevy, dob 01/10/81, of 1105 Gilliam St., Ruston, arrested on charges of Dog Fighting;  Andarius D. Cato, dob 07/13/87, of Brock St., Gibsland; arrested on charges of Dog Fighting;  DeAngelo D. Winzer, dob 01/01/82; of 1516 Marsalis Drive No. 22, Arcadia; arrested on charges of Dog Fighting;  Kevin D. Foster, dob 12/22/72, of 1208 Alpine Ave., Ruston, arrested on charges of Dog Fighting and Resisting an Officer (2 counts);  Robert L. Johnson, dob 07/29/76, of 105 East Hilly St., Ruston; arrested on charges of Dog Fighting;  Nickey J. Williams, dob 12/30/75, Chatham; arrested on charges of Dog Fighting;  Robert L. Reynolds, dob 09/30/73, of 303 Hickory St., Strong, AR., arrested on charges of Dog Fighting

Sheriff Buckley said that a number of the arrestees are supposedly on state and/or local probation and probation violation charges are pending.

He added that bonds are to be set later today after all charges have been determined.

Union Parish Sheriff Bob Buckley said that in regard to a previous press release, one suspect apparently gave a false name at booking.

Jason Q. Dixon of 3112 Taylor Street, Farmerville; gave deputies the name of Jason Q. Banks during the arrest and booking.

Detectives at the Sheriff's office uncovered Dixon's true identity and found he had numerous warrants outstanding. He was re-arrested under his real name and charged as follows: 1) Fugitive from Lincoln Parish - original charge Issuing Worthless Checks; BOND $500; 2) Failure to Appear on Attempted Distribution of Marijuana out of Union Parish; BOND - $1,500; 3) Failure to Appear on an Issuing Worthless Checks (out of Union) - BOND - $750; 4) Writ of Attachment (out of Union) - BOND -$750; 5) Failure to Appear on Possession of Marijuana (out of Union) - BOND - $3,000; 6) Resisting an Officer by Giving False Information During Booking - NO BOND SET; 7) Non-Support Warrant (out of Union) - BOND - $2,000; 8) Dog Fighting - BOND TO BE SET.

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