ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, March 22, 1996 TAG: 9603220078
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURENCE HAMMACK
A Roanoke judge has dropped charges against two men accused of organizing a dogfight in a public housing development.
Felony charges against Derrick S. Perry, 27, and Roderick L. Hancock, 29, both of Roanoke, were dropped at the request of prosecutors at a hearing Thursday in General District Court.
George McLean, a Roanoke lawyer who represents Hancock, said there was no evidence that the men were promoting or conducting an organized dogfight as cited in the charges.
Police had said earlier that the two men were arrested March 2 after an officer spotted them in the Hurt Park housing development, holding a pit bull terrier and a Labrador retriever on leashes and encouraging the dogs to fight as about 20 people looked on.
Promoting or conducting a dogfight is a felony in Virginia, punishable by up to five years in prison. Roanoke authorities say the activity is popular among a small circle of participants and spectators, who sometimes place bets on the fights.
Although the felony charges were dropped, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Tom Bowers said prosecutors will seek misdemeanor charges of cruelty to animals against the men.
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