CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) -
Two men are facing charges in a
dog-fighting investigation that includes thousands of dollars in cash and
drugs.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police
Department's Gang Unit investigated "suspicious activity" at a home
on Grier Avenue in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood. Police have not confirmed
if the two are gang members.
Detectives served a search warrant
on Thursday, January 24. While searching the home, officers found dead dogs,
several living dogs, thousands in cash, drugs, and guns.
One adult pit bull and two pit bull
puppies are dead, according to police. The surviving dogs were removed from the
home and evaluated at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control.
Officers are now reaching out to
rescue groups to see if there is any room for the surviving dogs.
The list of seized items includes:
- 14 pit bulls, believed to be used for fighting
- 1 pit bull body
- Ledgers, medication, and various other items
"consistent with dog-fighting activity"
- $68,386 in cash
- 10 pounds of marijuana
- (1) 40 caliber pistol
- (1) 38 caliber revolver
- (1) 22 caliber rifle
- (1) 7.62x39 rifle
- A bulletproof vest
30-year-old Daran Dejuan Goines is
charged with dog fighting and baiting, trafficking marijuana, maintaining a
dwelling for the sale of controlled substance and possession of drug
paraphernalia.
30-year-old Cyril Joseph Baldeagle
is charged with trafficking marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and
carrying a concealed weapon (gun).
Both men posted bond and have been
released from jail.
The
surviving pit bulls were removed from the home and are being evaluated at the
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control.
Detectives say the suspects kept to themselves and
caused no trouble at the house.
"In an operation such as this," CMPD
Captain Chris Dozier said. "The use of drugs, ledger and money - the
condition of the animals, it shows a high level of sophistication."
Police found drugs that are evidence the dogs were
being trained to fight.
"Pitbull breed is the breed of choice for dog
fighters," Dozier said. "The paraphernalia we found, drugs to treat
animals, who have been wounded. Drugs used to condition animals for dog
fighting."
WBTV stopped by the house where the arrests
happened. An elderly lady ,who wouldn't give us her name, told us she owned the
house and told us we had bad information.
"Whoever gave you that information," the
woman said. "Tell them to get right next time."
We also asked her about police raiding her house.
"I don't know how," she said. "I've
been right here, so that's all I got to say."
Police say this is the first dog fighting ring
discovered this year in Charlotte, but they believe more could be happening.
Police are now being told what to look for when on patrol so they can be on the
lookout for more possible dog fighting operations.
Copyright 2013 WBTV. All rights reserved.
