Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 27, 1994 TAG: 9410270090
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURENCE HAMMACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Judge William Broadhurst certified the charges against David M. Ray, 39, and James E. Elston, 19, to a grand jury during a preliminary hearing Wednesday in Roanoke General District Court.
Authorities say dogfights are a popular sport among some people in Roanoke, but charges are rare because the loosely organized and secretive fights are difficult to track down.
In the case involving Ray and Elston, animal control Officer M.W. Quesenberry testified that he arrested both men the afternoon of Oct. 7 in Strauss Park.
Quesenberry testified that he was stopped at Westside Boulevard and Shenandoah Avenue by a resident who had just witnessed a dogfight in the nearby park. As he walked into the park, Quesenberry said, he could see both men holding pit bull terriers on leashes, hovering over the two animals as they fought.
After the men spotted him, Quesenberry testified, they took the dogs to a nearby creek and were washing blood off them when he approached.
Both dogs had suffered cuts, and were impounded and taken to the Roanoke Valley Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Assistant Public Defender Roger Dalton had asked that the charges be dismissed, arguing that there was no evidence of betting, spectators or a designated area for the fight - all of which usually are associated with organized dogfights.
"This clearly wasn't organized fighting of dogs," Dalton said.
Broadhurst denied that motion and another asking that the dogs be returned to their owners. If convicted, the men could face up to five years in prison, said Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Alice Ekirch.
by CNB