One person has been arrested in connection with an illegal animal slaughterhouse in St. Lucie County, the sheriff said Thursday afternoon during a news conference.
Sheriff Keith Pearson said Miguel Cabrera, 57, was arrested during Wednesday’s raid at 200 Godwin Road, west of Fort Pierce. He faces two counts of animal cruelty.
Pearson said Animal Recovery Mission approached the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office about the farm in December.
Capt. Troy Norman said deputies recovered more than 100 animals and instruments used in the slaughter.
WATCH: News conference on animal cruelty arrest
St. Lucie County sheriff announces arrest of animal slaughterhouse suspect
“There was also meat that was located there that was from previous slaughters that was actually there for sale,” Norman said.
Lead Detective Clay Mangrum said the animals endured “quite a bit of suffering” before they were killed.
ARM said the raid was the result of a six-month undercover investigation, during which video showed “goats hoisted upside down” with “their throats slashed and skinned alive,” as well as “pigs pinned down and stabbed in the heart multiple times.”