Police Say Dogfighting Ring Broken in a Bronx Residence

Police have raided a building that housed an illegal dogfighting ring in a central residential section of the Bronx.

Officials said seven people were arrested and 16 dogs were rescued over the weekend. At least one of the dogs was seriously injured, police said.

The dogs were kept in filthy kennels in the basement of a three-story building at 108 E. 179th St. in the Morris Heights section of the Bronx, according to officials. Police said the dogs were forced to fight inside a 9-square-foot ring in the house.

Police said they also recovered choke-sticks, syringes, and $1,847 in cash from the house. Police are investigating who owned the dogs, but said the seven people arrested would all be charged with taking part in animal fighting, promoting gambling, and possessing animals for fighting.

The suspects were identified as Lauritz Acoy, 41, of the Bronx, Israel Cuevas, 34, of North Brunswick, N.J., Alexander Estephane, 44, of the Bronx, Eric Boyce, 33, of the Bronx, Juan Toledo, 38, of Paterson, N.J., Alterik Mason, 29, of Newark, N.J., and Darnell Walker, 34, of Newark.

Officials said two additional suspects fled from the scene during the raid.