26 arrested in alleged dogfighting operation in Hart County

HART COUNTY, Ga. — Twenty-six people were arrested Friday night after a Hart County Sheriff’s Office deputy responding to vehicles parked along a roadway discovered what authorities described as a large dogfighting operation involving people from multiple states.

According to the sheriff’s office, a deputy responded to the end of Jim Heard Road shortly before 11:30 p.m. Oct. 30 after receiving a report of vehicles parked in the roadway.

When the deputy arrived, multiple vehicles were parked along both sides of the road. The deputy also heard dogs barking and growling from a nearby wooded area.

As the deputy walked up a driveway leading into the woods, he found additional vehicles and observed dog crates in several of them. Some of the crates appeared to have blood on them, according to the sheriff’s office.

The deputy encountered three men while walking along a path. Authorities said the men attempted to flee when they saw the deputy. One was taken into custody, while others ran into the surrounding woods.

Additional law enforcement officers responded, including deputies from the Elbert County and Franklin County sheriff’s offices and an agent with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office.

The Hart County Sheriff’s Office deployed a drone to assist in the search. Authorities said three K9 units and two drones were used to locate 20 people hiding in the surrounding woods and a nearby field.

Four additional people who arrived at the scene were also determined to be connected to the operation and arrested. Two others were found walking along a nearby roadway and were also determined to be involved, according to authorities.

All 26 suspects were charged with dogfighting and cruelty to animals.

Authorities said 26 vehicles were towed from the scene. Multiple dogs and firearms were seized, along with large amounts of cash that were collected as evidence.

Hart County Animal Control responded and took possession of the dogs seized during the investigation.

The people arrested were:

• Tazmorronta Hollowell, 52, Lauderdale Lakes, Florida
• Edick Wellington Thomas, 52, Clewiston, Florida
• Ronald Kamel Wiggins, 46, Jackson, Mississippi
• Cory Lavon Edwards, 50, Pontiac, Michigan
• Kristi Lakiah Watkins, 37, Jackson, Mississippi
• Donnell Lamar Slade, 51, Columbia, South Carolina
• Patrick Oneal Heard, 48, Elberton, Georgia
• Curtis Franklin, 45, Rochester, New York
• Gregory Jermaine McCallun, 47, Jackson, Mississippi
• Jerell Dejaun Summers, 34, Orangeburg, South Carolina
• Tina Monique Adams, 46, Lancaster, Texas
• Jarrod Christopher Middleton, 41, Jackson, Mississippi
• Rodriguez Deangelo Bell, 43, McDonough, Georgia
• Eddrick Deewayne Twitty, 46, Blackwood, South Carolina
• Keith Montel Skinner, 33, Kosciusko, Mississippi
• Ronald Greg Cunningham, 55, Bowman, Georgia
• Terrance Franklin Davis, 48, Dothan, Alabama
• Cedric Lashawn Kyle, 53, Jackson, Mississippi
• Jahim Brown, 23, Lexington, Mississippi
• Dwight Eric Pinellas, 29, Kissimmee, Florida
• Monty Henry, 33, Washington, D.C.
• Jonathan C. Primus, 35, Charleston, West Virginia
• Charles Jamaruez Wilson, 38, Sallis, Mississippi
• Deandre Lindell Upchurch, 45, Flint, Michigan
• Raymond Elusta Richo, 55, Jacksonville, Florida
• Glenn Everett Zebbs, 50, Westminster, South Carolina

Sheriff Chris Carroll credited deputies and assisting agencies for their response.

“This investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming,” Carroll said.

The investigation remains active.