15 charged in Seminole Co. dogfighting ring

DONALSONVILLE, Ga. (WALB) - Fifteen people were arrested for their alleged involvement in a dogfighting ring, according to the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office responded to an anonymous tip on Sunday in the area of Jessie Mitchell Road.

Once on scene, deputies saw numerous people run away.

They found 27 dogs with injuries to their faces, bodies and legs.

All of them have been checked out and released to an animal rescue group.

The sheriff’s office arrested the following people in connection to the incident:

Brandon Baker
Christopher Brown
Herman Buggs
Temichael Elijah
Robert Fioramonti
Terelle Ganzy
Cornelious Johnson
Ramar Lee
Kayla Stelle
Robert West
Fredricus White
Gary Hopkins
Fredica Buggs
Rodrecus Kimble
Torris Kimble

All 12 suspects are facing felony dogfighting charges. Elijah and Fioramonti face additional charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. A total of seven guns were recovered.

A judge denied bond for all 12 people charged.

The sheriff’s office said the incident is still under investigation.

Press Release..... Edit… Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Department of Natural Resources also assisted. Thank you!
Posted by Seminole County Georgia Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Deputies from the Seminole County sheriff office says there were dogs chained around this entire property and cars with wounded dogs inside them.

Deputies said dogs were chained around this property — Deputies said dogs were chained around this property(WALB)

And Sheriff Heath Elliott said he has never witnessed something like this in this county.

“There was one and the last I heard there was a second one possibly have to be put down for the injuries it had” said Sheriff Elliott.

Seminole County Sheriff Heath Elliott said he has never witnessed something like this in... — Seminole County Sheriff Heath Elliott said he has never witnessed something like this in Seminole County(WALB)

The Majority of the dogs that were recovered were battered. One even had a broken leg.

Four dogs are in good condition at the Bainbridge Decatur County Humane society, but their shelter director said it happens a lot more often than people think.

Bainbridge Humane Society shelter director Ashley White said dog fighters don’t always fit the... — Bainbridge Humane Society shelter director Ashley White said dog fighters don’t always fit the stereotypical criminal profile.(WALB)

“Dog fighters don’t always fit the stereotypical criminal profile. You see sometimes upstanding members of the community. You see business people that you respect that are involved in it and there’s a statistic that was released by ASPCA not very long ago that stated ‘57 percent of Americans didn’t believe dog fighting was happening in the community but in reality there’s something along the line of over 40,000 people in America every year have some sort of connection to it” said Ashley White.

Both White and Sheriff Elliott stated that the only to prevent something like to happen is to report signs of it or if you know anything about just tell local authorities.

Deputies said this is where the dog fighting took place on the property on Jessie Mitchell Road — Deputies said this is where the dog fighting took place on the property on Jessie Mitchell Road(WALB)

White also says that dog fighting brings other elements like guns and drugs into the community as you could see what the suspects had in their possession.

Sheriff Elliott said they expect to make more arrests.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office at (229) 524-5115.

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