OPELOUSAS, La. (KPEL News) — Two roosters seized as evidence in a major cockfighting bust in St. Landry Parish have been stolen from the parish animal control shelter in Opelousas, Sheriff Bobby Guidroz confirmed Wednesday.
The birds were among 70 fighting roosters taken into custody during a March 7 raid on a property at 854 Raiders Road northwest of Opelousas. The theft is now under investigation.
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How Did This Happen at the St. Landry Parish Shelter?
Details on how the roosters were taken from the St. Landry Parish Animal Control facility remain limited. Guidroz did not say when the theft was discovered or whether investigators have identified any suspects. The story is still developing, and KPEL News will update this article as more information becomes available.
The shelter, located on Hangar Road in Opelousas, is operated by St. Landry Parish Government under the direction of Parish President Jessie Bellard.
The Cockfighting Raid That Started It All
The stolen birds trace back to what Guidroz has called the first cockfighting raid his office has conducted since the practice was outlawed in Louisiana in 2008.
Deputies received an anonymous tip on Saturday, March 7, about a cockfighting event in progress on Raiders Road. Using covert surveillance, investigators confirmed a large gathering of people transporting fighting roosters to the property. Guidroz pulled together members of his entire Investigative Division, including CID, Narcotics, Juvenile Detectives, and Sex Offender Detectives, to handle the crowd…