Five men arrested in Seaford on dog fighting-related charges
By SEAFORD - Delaware Division of Public Health’s Office of Animal Welfare and the Delaware State Police have arrested five men on charges related to dog fighting after a complaint of suspicious activity at a residence over the weekend, authorities said.
The joint investigation also led to the rescue of 14 dogs, according to Delaware State Police spokesperson Senior Cpl. Leonard DeMalto.
Police said that on Sunday at approximately 2:07 p.m., troopers responded to a report of suspicious activity at a residence on the 26000 block of Lonesome Road. Troopers conducted an investigation and discovered multiple people at the property actively engaged in dog fighting, police said.
Five persons were arrested, police said. Following the observed animal fighting, Office of Animal Welfare obtained a search and seizure warrant for the property units and took custody of the 14 dogs that were found at the residence.
Those arrested included Byron Briddell, 35, of Berlin, Maryland, Kevin Land, 46, of Seaford, Glenn White, 36, of Salisbury, Maryland, Timothy Whaley, 44, of Salisbury, Maryland, and Samuel Foreman, 44, of Whaleysville, Maryland.
All five men were charged with own, possess, keep, or use animal for fighting, present at building/shed/room/yard for animal fighting, cruelty or unnecessarily kills or injures any animal, and resisting arrest. Each was was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $18,000 secured bond.
The Office of Animal Welfare said the investigation is ongoing and ask anyone with information to call 302-255-4646.
Concerns about an animal’s welfare or suspected cruelty or neglect can be called into the office’s Delaware Animal Services section at 302-255-4646 or reported online at animalservices.delaware.gov/report_violation.
To report cruelty or neglect of agricultural or farm animals, or livestock at large, contact the Delaware Department of Agriculture at 302-698-4500.
