Anne Arundel County police used a neighbor?s tip to bust a ring of dogfighting, drugs and guns at a Severna Park house, police said Monday.
“The adult dogs generally, if they have been used for fighting or trained to be aggressive, are euthanized,” said Cpl. Mark Shawkey, police spokesman, referring to the four injured pit bulls and one puppy taken when Kevin Jay Green, 44, and Kathleen Marie Bell, 37, both of 85 Glenns Road, were arrested Friday. “The puppy may have a chance for adoption.”
Staff members at the Animal Control Unit in Millersville could not comment on the dogs? conditions.
Under Maryland Animal Law, an animal poses a public safety threat if it “engages in encouraged dogfighting activity or shows evidence of having been engaged in encouraged dogfighting activity.”
Police conducted a two-day surveillance of the house and witnessed drug trafficking, Shawkey said.
Detectives found evidence of dogfighting Saturday, as well as $3,500 worth of crack cocaine, a loaded Ruger 9 mm handgun with a spare loaded magazine, drug paraphernalia and more than $600 in cash, according to the police report.
To prevent dogfighting, Howard County?s volunteer Animal Advocates organization is offering $1,000 to anyone who reports dogfighting incidents.
“We don?t believe that dogfighting is a problem in Howard County,” Police Chief William McMahon said in a news release. “But the only way to be sure is for our citizens to come forward.”
Green and Bell are being held at the Anne Arundel County Detention Center on a $750,000 bond for each.
Police do not know how many people were engaged in dogfighting at the house and how large the drug-trafficking ring reached, but Green and Bell are facing four drug-related charges and three animal cruelty-related charges.
“The animal cruelty charges generally carry a stiffer penalty then the drug charges,” Shawkey said.
AT A GLANCE
A person who arranges or conducts a dogfight is guilty of a felony in Maryland and is subject to a $5,000 fine and three years in prison. A person who attends a dogfight is guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to $1,000 fine and 90 days imprisonment. The court can order psychological counseling in both cases.
Source: Maryland Animal Law
