Man arrested after raid on alleged cockfighting ring

Illegal narcotics also seized

WINCHESTER — An Ephrata man was arrested after law enforcement officers from several agencies raided a location between Quincy and Ephrata that was allegedly hosting an illegal cockfighting ring. Officers also confiscated illegal narcotics.

Reymundo Garcia, 56, Ephrata, was arrested at the location, 9410 Road J.4 Northwest, according to a press release from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. He was booked into the Grant County Jail for investigation of running the cockfighting operation, animal cruelty, possession of cocaine, possession of psilocybin mushrooms and possession of heroin and methamphetamines with intent to deliver, the press release said.

“Investigators found 13 birds that were physically modified to reduce blood loss during cockfighting. The birds were humanely euthanized,” the press release said. “Investigators also found quantities of illegal drugs.”

The raid was conducted about 8:30 a.m. Thursday, and followed a yearlong investigation into an illegal gambling operation that featured cockfights, the press release said. Detectives from the county’s Interagency Narcotics Task Force (INET), GCSO animal control officers, Quincy Police Department officers and representatives from the Washington Gambling Commission conducted the raid, the press release said.

— Cheryl Schweizer