Feds: Dog Fights Staged on Vick Property (July 7 update)

[theHandpuppet]

Scumbags. Total, lowlife SCUMBAGS!

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FBN_FALCONS_VICK?SITE=OHCIN&SECTION=AMERICAS&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Jul 7, 4:39 AM EDT

Feds: Dog Fights Staged on Vick Property

By HANK KURZ JR. and MICHAEL FELBERBAUM
Associated Press Writers

SURRY, Va. (AP) -- There is no longer any doubt about what federal authorities contend took place on the property owned by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick that is at the center of a dogfighting investigation.

<snipping>

The property was used as the "main staging area for housing and training the pit bulls involved" in a dogfighting operation, according to the court papers.

The documents contend prize money from the dogfighting climbed into the thousands of dollars, people came from as far away as Texas and sheepish pit bulls were killed.

<Snipping>

Fights would end when one dog died or with the surrender of the losing dog, which was sometimes put to death by drowning, strangulation, hanging, gun shot, electrocution or some other method, according to the documents. The property has an aboveground swimming pool, and investigators were seen looking into its murky water Friday.

During a June search of the property, investigators uncovered the graves of seven pit bulls that were killed by members of "Bad Newz Kennels" following sessions to test whether the dogs would be good fighters, the documents alleged.... MORE

[Cooley Hurd]

1. Speechless...

I hope those involved are prosecuted and never see the light of day again...:there-isn't-a-smiley-that-fits-my-rage:

[glowing]

2. Why would an NFL quarterback do this... isn't he making enough

money on the field? What is wrong with people?

[DotGone]

10. Nothing to do with money

This is all about the bloodlust of watching animals maim and kill each other. Add to it the thrill of gambling and being the "top dog" in that.

[LostinVA]

16. It's called being a sociopath

Because that's what people who torture animals and/or enjoy watching them be tortured are: sociopaths. Normal, empathic people would NEVER be a part of this filth.

He needs to be kicked out of the NFL and put into prison.

[MountainLaurel]

19. Pretty much.

Those poor dogs.

:cry:

[LostinVA]

21. I know -- stuff like this hurts me

I mean, it really does -- it upsets me for days.

[MountainLaurel]

23. I'm sensitive anyway

But my parents have been owned by several pits and mixes over the past 20 years, and when I read these stories, I see the faces of the dogs I knew and it breaks my heart. How anyone could do this to another creature, particularly one that is so very loyal, is beyond all comprehension.

[LostinVA]

24. I know, I can't understand it either

Which is a very good thing, eh?

[michaz]

3. These people are sick and disgusting!

What, the guy doesn't make enough money that he needs to do this to supplement his income? Proper punishment for these people? Make them fight each other till one of them dies or surrenders! That would not even be good enough for them! But since they won't do this, I guess throw them in prison and leave them there!

[wakeme2008]

4. Vick is blaming it on relatives and "racist cops"

Vick has said he rarely visited the property.

.....

From http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/123479

Local Surry County investigators began investigating possible dogfighting at the property in late April, when a search for drugs involving Vick's cousin found more than 50 pit bulls and several items associated with dogfighting.

Sheriff Harold Brown, who was out of the office and unavailable for comment Friday, said as recently as last week that the local investigation was still active, and that charges could come when the county's grand jury next convenes July 24.

Poindexter has publicly questioned the federal government's interest in a dogfighting case. He suggested that Vick's celebrity was the draw, and raised race as a possible motivation as well. Poindexter and Vick are black, as is Brown.

....

IMHO this is just BS from Vick and his lawyers. He knew....

[LiberalFighter]

6. I wonder if the prosecuting attorney is involved since he wasn't willing to serve the warrant

The county is about 280 sq miles with about 7000 residents.

I wonder how well known Vick is in the area and whether they know when he is back home or gone.

That could be what either hangs Vick or gives him the alibi. BUT, not know what is happening on one's property?

[wakeme2008]

8. I am thinking the local guy if not making direct money from the dog fights

is a viewer and better. :shrug:

[Botany]

5. Vick's 2004 salary

base signing bonus other total

Vick, Michael $2,000,000 $1,400,000 $103,500 $3,503,500

I don't care how big a house he has for him to say that he was unaware of the dog fighting operation
on his property is pure bull shit.

[regnaD kciN]

7. Not necessarily...

I don't care how big a house he has for him to say that he was unaware of the dog fighting operation on his property is pure bull shit.

This was a case where Vick owned a bunch of properties and was letting members of his extended family stay at one he wasn't using. It wasn't a situation where he was living somewhere on the same property himself -- I think he actually lives in Georgia, hundreds of miles away from where this was taking place. I think it's quite believable that he would have no idea this was going on.

[karlrschneider]

9. Yeah, right.

And I'm the King of Spain.
:eyes:

[demgirlamerica]

11. vick is garbage

i think vick should get a taste of his own medicine. lock him in a cage with half starved pit bulls trained to kill.. and as far as him not knowing, sports illustrated published an article detailing his involvement. im sick and tired of atheltes and the rich getting special treatment

[Botany]

12. And he did not know that his "water bottle" had a hidden compartment ...

... with marijuana in it either when it was taken away by an airport screener too.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0118071mexico1.html

Mr. Vick's claim of lack of knowledge about what was going on at the home he owned
seem pretty thin to me because of his track record and the people he was "running with."

I am willing to bet that very soon somebody will come forward and place him being at
the dog fights themselves. According to reports the dog fighting operation had been
going on for 5 years and yet he claims no knowledge of such an operation?

[LostinVA]

17. He has a history of blaming other people for his crimes and mistakes, eh?

And, you ARE responsible for what goes on on your property. If I let my sister use my storage shed for something, and never went in there, and she built a meth lab out there, do you think I wouldn't be responsible, both legally and ethical? Hell yeah, I would.

[Donnachaidh]

18. and he doesn't talk to this extended *Family*?

Don't buy it. Not ONE word of it. He OWNS the property - he IS responsible.

[LostinVA]

22. EXACTLY what I said up thread -- his property, his responsibility

I don't buy his denials.

[flvegan]

13. "Extremely reliable" police informant says Vick is dogfighting "heavyweight"

From http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/ATL/10199827

The network cited a police informant whom a dog-fighting investigator called "extremely reliable."

"That's who bets a large dollar," the informant said on the show Outside the Lines. "And they have the money to bet large money. As I'm talking about large money, 30 to 40 thousand, even higher. He's one of the heavyweights."

When asked how he knows Vick bets that amount, the informant said, "because I've seen it."

The informant said his dog beat Vick's dog in 2000, the year before Vick was chosen by the Falcons with the first overall pick in the NFL draft.

Investigator David Hunt said information from the informant has "resulted in the arrest of several individuals over the past few years, numerous search warrants, as well as convictions."



Vick is a piece of shit. If he's involved, I hope his career is over and they send him to jail.

[Beausoir]

14. Hack this guy's balls off and feed them to his dogs.

What a filthy piece of excrement.

[Hubert Flottz]

15. They should make the people caught doing this, fight to the death

unarmed, with a pack of hungry wolves.

[MountainLaurel]

20. I'd be OK with that.

:popcorn:

[Scout]

25. i have to go hug my dogs....

this disgusts me beyond words.
:puke:

:puke:

:puke: