Authorities executing a search warrant at a Long Island home in connection with a drug investigation found more than 40 roosters that apparently had been involved in a cockfighting ring, police said Wednesday.
Reynaldo Bonilla, 37, was arrested on a charge of training an animal to fight, a felony under state law, as well as a series of drug-related offenses after officers executed the search warrant at his Brentwood single-family home around 6 a.m., police said.
Only one dead bird was recovered from the home; the dozens of live ones showed evidence they had been trained to fight, authorities said. Animal cruelty officials removed the live roosters from the home.
Cocaine and marijuana were found in the home as well, authorities said.
Bonilla was expected to be arraigned Thursday in First District Court in Central Islip. It wasn't immediately clear if he had an attorney.
