Two Arrests Made for Dog Fighting

Tue, Dec 19, 2006
By KAREN DAILY Staff writer

Two men are in police custody on animal fighting charges and deputies are searching for three others after discovering the group at a dog fight in Wagener this weekend, officials said.

The Aiken County Sheriff's Office, in cooperation with Aiken County Animal Control and Wagener Police Department, broke up the active dog fight on Sunday in a wooded area behind 175 Cofer Street.

Lt. Michael Frank, of the Aiken County Sheriff's Office, said the deputies found the fight in progress and arrested two men.

Samuel Seawright, 25, of Honeysuckle Trail in Perry, is charged with animal fighting.

Leon M. Davis, 27, of Holley Street in Wagener, is charged with animal fighting.

"Acting on a tip, deputies and officers discovered the dog fight in the woods," Frank said. "They ordered all the men to lie on the ground, but three individuals ran from the scene," Frank stated in a press release.

The law enforcement officers reported hearing the men yelling.

One man yelled, "Get off the leg and bite the neck," a report stated.

The officers entered the woods and saw two dogs fighting and five men watching.

Animal control officers seized two pit bulls.

The sheriff's office holds warrants for the arrest of Jermaine D. Wooden, 26, of the 400 block of Big Tree Road in Salley, Isiah Jerry, 23, of the 100 block of Wagontong Road in Wagener and Willie L. Seawright Jr., 29, of Hazel Hudson Drive in Wagener.

Wooden and Jerry will be charged with animal fighting.

Seawright Jr. will be charged with being present at an animal fight, Frank said.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the other individuals is asked to contact the Aiken County Sheriff's Office at (800) 922-9709 or call CrimeStoppers of the Midlands at (888) 559-TIPS. Callers will remain anonymous and are eligible for a cash reward of between $50 and $1,000.

Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com