Authorities allege the seized items included cockfighting knives, knife-mounting devices, double-edge razor blades and other animal fighting equipment.
A 38-year-old Plant City man faces multiple charges after a routine traffic stop in Lakeland on July 27 led to marijuana and illegal cockfighting gear.
Officers recovered marijuana and numerous items used in the training and preparation of fighting roosters, including double-edge razor blades, cockfighting knives, knife-mounting devices, rooster conditioning supplements and other equipment commonly associated with organized animal fighting.
Cockfighting knives, commonly referred to as slashers or artificial heels, are designed to be attached to a rooster’s leg prior to a fight and are intended to inflict deep cutting and penetrating injuries upon an opposing bird. Unlike needle-style gaffs, slashers create large open wounds resulting in significant blood loss and greatly increase the likelihood of fatal injuries.
Knife-mounting boots are leather, plastic, and metal mounting devices contain circular openings designed to secure cockfighting knives to a rooster’s leg or trimmed natural spur.
Baltazar Mandujano was arrested and charged with:
- Possession of Equipment Used for Animal Fighting (F3)
- Possession of Marijuana Under 20 Grams and drug paraphernalia (M1)
