Earlier today, Tulare sheriff Deputies were called to an orange grove in the area of Avenue 320 and Road 228 in Woodlake regarding a possible chicken fight.

When they arrived, deputies saw several people gathered around a portable fighting ring in the middle of the grove. When they saw the deputies, several of the people ran off. Upon further investigation, deputies found two dead birds and 28 live birds. Tulare County Animal Control took possession of all birds.

Deputies also located several long knives and other fighting paraphernalia in the area. Officers from Woodlake, Farmersville and Exeter PD assisted with this investigation. 70-year-old Louie Miguel Florendo of Visalia, 52-year-old Ismael Arreazola of Fresno, 69-year-old Jerry Charles of Sanger, 70-year-old Robert Kruzic of Fresno, 63-year-old Jose Luis Nieto of Bakersfield And 55-year-old Ricardo Valverde Aquino of Bakersfield were all arrested and booked into custody at Pre-Trial.

This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with more information regarding this investigation is urged to contact the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at #1-800-808-0488 or anonymously at tcso@tip-now.com or by text or voicemail at #559-725-4194.