Andrea Rosebrock 
 Charles Sutton |
 Lance Webb |
Martez Anderson
UPDATE 9/26/09 – Charges Upgraded for One Suspect in IL Dogfighting Ring
A home day care center at 2101 S. Third Ave in Maywood, IL, was the scene of a gruesome dogfighting ring bust yesterday. Scarred, injured dogs and puppies, equipment, and a bloody garage were found. Three men were arrested and charged, Charles Sutton, 42, and Lance Webb, 27, both of Maywood, were charged with felony dogfighting and Martez Anderson, 38, of Maywood, who kept the fighting dogs at his house, was charged with being a felon in possession of an unsprayed or unneutered dog, a misdemeanor.
Three homes were raided, one being the day care where 10 children were being cared for. In a garage behind the house, not far from where the children played, an aggressive pitbull was chained, the garage walls and floor spattered with blood, equipment including syringes, medication, break sticks and harnesses were found. The dog that was chained up there was in pathetic shape, his chest “shredded” and his penis almost completely bitten off.
“Kids were playing on a swing set just 10 feet away from a vicious fighting dog and blood-stained floors,” Sheriff Tom Dart said.
In a nearby house, 2025 S. Sixth Ave., rented by ex-convict, Martez Anderson, was where the dogs were kept. Anderson charged about $60 a month to house the dog. At that residence they found a female pitbull with three four-month-old puppies. It looked as if the puppies had already been in fights, perhaps used as bait. One of them was already scarred and had an eye ripped out. They were kept in urine soaked wire cages, no food or water and were all severely emaciated. Another dog was found in a shed behind the garage, severely scarred, it’s leg broken so badly that it was twisted around backwards and another dog in a crate behind the shed in such bad shape it could barely stand.
In yet another house at 2027, right next to the ex-con’s house, they found more dogfight training equipment and yet another malnourished puppy.
“All of the dogs that we got yesterday were in horrific condition,” Sheriff Tom Dart said while cuddling a puppy taken during the raid. “The people who work on this have done this for years as you know and this is as bad as we’ve seen the animals.”
All the dogs and puppies were seized from the three premises and taken to the Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge. Some are receiving care, including surgery to treat wounds and broken bones. The dogs and puppies will go into rehabilitation and hopefully most of them will be adopted in time.
“What was done to these dogs is inexcusable,” Dart said. “This was done in the name of gambling and greed and no area seems to be immune from its influence — we see it in rural farm areas and inner cities. Unfortunately, we’re also seeing more and more kids exposed to this kind of lifestyle.”
Sutton’s wife, who ran the licensed daycare, of course denied any involvement and said the children were never around any of the dogs or equipment. By late Wednesday thought, she did surrender her license and close the day care.
“This day care home operator complied with our request today to surrender her license with cause,” Kendall Marlowe, DCFS spokesman said. “This day care home is now closed, and we will monitor the home going forward to ensure that it does not reopen.
Two other unnamed men are also being sought in connection to the dogfighting ring.
Martez Anderson denied that the dogs found in his home were used for dogfighting, “You got all kind of criminals running around Maywood and you would actually spend taxpayers’ dollars to come to my house to get some Momma and the puppies? That’s crazy. All the dogs that they took from here had the papers on them. I want to clarify that.”
“They probably could of did for a bath or so, but other than that, they wasn’t like ate up like they’re making it out to be.”
He also said that his cousin, Lance Webb, who the dog and puppies belonged to, wasn’t involved with dogfighting and that they planned to sell the puppies. As for the one with a missing eye, oh, a door fell on it. Yeah right!
It seems neighbors weren’t oblivious to the goings on either;
“They would take the dogs in the garage during the day and you could hear them fighting,” said Guadalupe Castro, 40, who lives down the block from the disbanded dogfighting operation. “We would hear dogs barking and making fighting sounds.”
She said she suspects two or three people attended the fights at a time. She noticed this all started by the beginning of the summer.
“I was scared because sometimes the dogs would get loose and run down the street,” Castro said. “I’m glad they got them [dogs] out of here.”
Another neighbor, who declined to identify herself for fear of retribution from anyone involved in the dogfighting operation, said she would call the village of Maywood often about the dogs. She said the dogs would be tied up to a pole and would bark and try to attack one another.
And more denials;
Elizabeth Lyons — owner of the home in the 2000 block of South Sixth Avenue that allegedly had a treadmill in a garage altered to train dogs to fight — said the dog being kept in the garage was her grandson’s puppy.
Lyons said she didn’t know how long the puppy had been staying in the garage and didn’t know its age, but said it didn’t have any injuries.
“We didn’t have no fighting dogs. … We’ve had dogs all of my life. I don’t go for that,” she said. “I’m afraid of fighting dogs anyway. You hear about them all of the time turning against their owners,” Lyons said, adding that she has a dog named Kisser.
How the hell can something like this go on for months, in a neighborhood with people around, at a licensed day care center?? What the hell is wrong with people?
Did the parents of these children care so little that they never bothered to check out the premises where their children were being cared for? There were complaints about the dogs previously which the Department of Children and Family Services checked out.
DCFS visited the home day care center in 2006 after receiving a complaint of dogs in the home, but in an unannounced visit, inspectors found the dogs were locked in the garage and had no access to the day care area of the home, Marlowe said. After a second complaint in July 2007, DCFS inspectors again found dogs locked in the garage, Marlowe said. In two other unannounced visits, the most recent in September 2008, inspectors found no sign of dogs in the home, he said.
This is beyond appalling! It seems obvious to me that Sutton’s wife, the day care operator, knew about the dogfighting but she allowed it to continue around the children, placing them in harms way. I cannot believe she was not arrested and at least charged with child endangerment!!
When you look at the evidence, the horrific shape the dogs were in; scarred and mangled, starved and house in deplorable condition, puppies included, all the equipment, how can anyone possibly deny the obvious?? Unbelievable!! I am almost left without words!
Please just lock this scum up and throw away the key!! All of them!! Those poor dogs… 
When I first read this I wanted to throw up. All the people involved with this are lying sacks of s**t. Including that POS who runs the daycare. A puppy does not loose an eyeball because a door fell on him.
Will someone PLEASE find me a shark tank with some hungry sharks?
Now there’s an idea!
I don’t think sharks would even eat this shit
OMG, I am shocked! That poor little one. But the worst part about this, is that it is about 5 miles from where I live! Since I do not watch the news, I did not catch this story at all.
This is a town where I will not even go to. If I drive thru it getting somewhere, all windows and doors are locked.
What the hell is wrong with people? A daycare? People saying they knew nothing about this. Geez, why won’t people stand up for anyone or any animal anymore? Oh how I want Rescue Ink to be in the Chicago area.
I thank God for my grandson’s daycare!! I cannot even comment on the rest. I am literally shaking.
Well this ever end???? It sickens me to no end that these sickos can do this. At least they are safe. I hope the sickos get what they deserve and not a slap on the hand – I wish people would wake up and report these idots – a dogs life depends on us!
what a bunch of uneducated trash
Again 2 legged beast’s have been allowed to get away with crimes against innocent animals. When will people take these things into their own hands as it seems the law looks the other way rather then shut them down. Rescue Ink does not use weapons and these people would not hesitate to kill you also. They have value being on the planet!
Boy how I wish Rescue Ink would open up branch groups in all major cities.
OK. I’ll tell them to push a chapter in your area to high priority when I go to the book signing next week.
Andrea, that would be fabulous!!! Hell, even tho I don’t ride a bike, I would be more than happy to help with their rescue efforts!!!
Dont fffforget Great Falls,Montana either Andrea : )
Sent an email to Sheriff Dart expressing my thanks. Anyone else who would like to send him an email, here is the email address: sheriff@cookcountysheriff.org
Wonderful idea, Susie!! I’m going to follow your lead and send one off too
D.
Well, now look at those faces. The faces you just want to tie up and have dogs attack them. They stand there with such mugs on their pusses. Thats what they are pusses as they use innocent animals to do the fighting for them. Imagine what these animals are feeling when this is happening, pain, emotional etc. Now for the scars that are left behind them. And then only to have some euthanized as they are not rebabable is that a word not sure. This is sickening. What drugs are they on.
Ok, the neighbors might have been frightened, something like this goes on and they dont know shit, I dont think so. Maybe some of them were involved and now just hit the road for fear of being caught. I dont believe no one in the neighborhood didnt know what was going on. you hear dogs etc. come on now. we were not born yesterday. Also, that day care provider pos should have her license revoked, never to be near children and the same with those pos’s. Never to be around or posses any dogs. and that wife should be brought up on charges, but can they prove it. I am sure they all came up with some alibi, i dont knkow anything.
She had to turn over her daycare license : )
Just makes me sick. All I can say is that no punishment short of torturing these guys for a few years and then killing them slowly would make up for the pain they’ve caused (and even that doesn’t make up for it because they deserve while the dogs did not).
Then let them play football in Philadelphia
HaHaHaHaHa ~ thats a kicker : )~
Very sad but true , Vick was no different .This is what Vick is , Ghetto scum like these Gangstas .Did you hear the moron talking? No education or future .What is the point of their existence.
If anyone knows about animals or dogs, knows that it is what humans teach them, they are not born that way. Those dogs poor things, look like they need a nice long vacation, they look exhausted from all their ordeal, I know I would be. Starving the dogs well, sure why not after the fight if they badly beaten up just discard them. This is not a sport, sport is football, baseball. This is a mind that is sick and scary. That house was in a congested area, you cant tell me that no one heard or knew anything. anyone that puts too many beware signs up has got to be up to something. usually I see those at the front gate and then see the dog as well. Some one in that neighborhood had to know something. I am not buying that bs. That little puppy that lost the eye, oh my god. This is heartbreaking, really is. How would they like to have a stick go through their eyes or something else and have only one eye left with no medical attention, food whatever abuse, neglect they put them through. they sure dont look like they are starving now do they. I suggest jenny craig.
No dogs in the home daytime, that deparment ususally makes unanounced daytime visits, who knows what happened at night. of course she wont have dogs in the house daytime its daylight people will see, at night no one will see what is happening. and no one from that D department checked the dogs out. I dont believe this at all.
Just when you’ve seen it all….I am just so disgusted at these people. And my heart is just broken for these poor dogs. Looking into their poor eyes, you can tell their poor spirits have been broken. Luckily, it looks like their “sheriff” is very concerned and disgusted by the whole thing and will hopefully make an example of these low lifes. We have to look at the injuries these dogs face now not only on the outside, but the inside too. Luckily, dogs are so forgiving and in time will hopefully mend both on the inside and out.
The human garbage that did this (all of them) should just be throw in jail, never to come out.
I only wish we could turn the tables on these criminals, and treat them the way they have treated these poor dogs…Although I don’t even think that would be enough of a punishment.
AH! POS RELATIVES OF MICK VICK MAYBE?
I hope it occurs to someone to bring these men AND the owner of the daycare up on charges of child endangerment, corruption of a minor, whatever other charges are available in the area. Regardless of what the adults knew or did not know, you can bet at least some of the kids in that daycare were aware of the presence of the dogs. They probably peeked through cracks in the walls of the garage, or crawled up to look through the windows. It’s what kids do.
What did all of this teach those kids? Are they the next generation of dog fighters? Will they learn the cruelty and the excuses and the lies? Or did they feel compassion and heartache? What kind of follow up will their parents provide? Will their parents tell them this was horrific animal abuse and that it’s good the police raided the place? Or will their parents tell them that the dogs were just pets, just needed a bath, ain’t nothing wrong over there, the law shouldn’t be wasted its time on regular people over a bunch of dogs, a man ought to be allowed to do what he likes with his own dog.
I worry about kids in these situations. What the hell do they learn? Getting those dogs out and charging the criminals is just the first step. It’s not enough to care for the dogs. We have to watch out for the kids. They are future dog rescuers – or dog fighters. This is the chance to stop the cycle.
Oh, and I like the idea of a nationwide data base of animal abusers. Can you imagine how much help it would be to rescues, shelters, humane societies, social workers, police, etc? To know a criminal’s history of animal abuse as well as parking tickets, parole violations, criminal convictions. [Isn't is odd that police can pull up parking violations but not records of the torture/murder of an animal. A parking violation tells a cop you're tardy or rude or selfish or broke. Records of animal abuse give law enforcement a lot more pertinent information.]
Might make it easier to catch sociopaths earlier in their careers,and get stronger sentances for repeat offenders.
Manon, there is a national database on animal abusers, but it is not published to the general public. It is available only to Non-Profit legal rescues. I am the keeper of the books for this, and am not allowed to share it with anyone, unless it is in writing from a rescue.
You made a very valid point to have it available to law enforcement, but I do believe that will take some work to get it into effect. I do promise that I will bring this up to one of our national posters. I seriously doubt that some of the police departments would take us seriously tho – just a gut feeling.
Any suggestions on how to start working with the law enforcement community would be more than welcome. I really mean it, because I could use all of your suggestions to the people in rescue that I work with.
That is just crazy that the police of all people don’t have axcess to that imformation. Who are these people that have these records protecting? For peat sake. Thats assinine.This is not aimed at you manon byr at thise that are not allowing it.
Excalibur2009, As I said before, any suggestions as to how to incorporate police departments in the loop of animal abusers, I am welcome to hear them. I am just the messenger in this factor, so all I can do is bring the message to those above me.
Remember, that all of us who do postings and keep records are all volunteers. This might have to be brought up on a national vote thru the rescue system. The information I keep is circulated only to legal rescues; because there are some people who come to adopt a dog, and they do not fit the criteria to adopt a dog, they will say they will go to another rescue until they do get a dog. They just want to inform rescue to rescue; and the same with if these same people have a history of animal abuse/neglect.
Susie, I had to type in hast so what I said may not have come across as I had intended. What I was wanting to know is why only rescuers are the ones to recieve this information? Why can’t the police have axcess to it to? After all they need any and all information on a potential prisoner and then there are the people that have animals that they sell or give out of there homes. Don’t they need to know if someone isn’t fit to have a pet. Why not set up a 800 # so folks can call and check on people before they unknowingly send these little fur babies to their death? After all you can’t get sued for telling the truth. Thank you for all that you do and again I appologise if what I typed came off the wrong way to you. I assure you I wasn’t dumping on you. I’m sure that you are like most all of us, racking our brains trying to find some kind of answer. You have a good day and God Bless You.
Geez, Excalibur – don’t worry about it. I know what happens when I type in haste too, sometimes things come out awkward.
I will check with some of the national posters on this. My week has been overly hectic at work, working 65 hours this week. I will also talk to some of the local cops in my town. But, if people were arrested for animal abuse/cruelty/neglect, it will be on their record, providing they got sentenced. This might be something that will be helpful to many, but I have a feeling many many hours is going to be going into this effort.
Hey, sometimes we got to dump, and I don’t mind.
I will say nothing as it will be regarded as prejudice . I do not want to offend anyone but facts are facts
An Animal Activist, I also work in the Security Field, and I want to say this to the Law Officials….Demented, Psychotic Criminals, such as Sutton, Andersen, and Webb should be put behind bars, for a long, long, time….35 years would fit the bill nicely, for me….as to the psychological damage that the children in the daycare have seen….and what the poor dogs have endured, ( also the Broken Limbs) this is disgusting and deplorable!! Please see to it that they get the Max. because as we are all too fully aware here….they will repeat this over and over again!! Activist for Peta, Care2, World Wildlife Fund, and the Aspca/Spca- Alexandra Marcella Manolesco-Ami!!
The wife should also be arrested. There is absolutely no way that she can denie knowledge. The sounds alone probly gave those innicent children nightmares. Those poor little fur babies.
I am DISGUSTED by this cruel and inhumane behavior!!!!!
This is bieng shown on CNN right now
Thanks Susie. But if I must dump on someone I would prefer it be someone that deserves it. You take care and keep up the good work : )
The Anderson bastard has a cell phone movie of him setting a dog on fire .He needs to die not be punished
Terry, the video is of someone setting a dog on fire. Nothing about who as of yet. Not defending the POS, just trying to keep things straight. This waste may yet be able to claim that horror tho… we’ll see what the police say after reviewing the video.
Personally I still like the idea of a tank of sharks… for some reason that really appeals to me… People like this, who mete out this kind of cruelty and suffering to innocent animals really do bring out the worst in me!
D.
D, I wooooould go along with the shatk thing only #1 it would be to quick and #2 it would probly make the innocent sharks sick, what do ya think.
UPDATE 9/26/09 – Charges Upgraded for One Suspect in IL Dogfighting Ring
i used 2 go 2 school in Maywood…..lived not 2 far away from this area….
how in the name of all that holy can these scums do these horrible things 2 our furfolk?? just blows me away. THEN set a dog on FIRE…………………..OMG. i was in a fire about 12 years ago n burned up n down my left side. still have the scars. the pain is horrendous!!!!
i’m so very sorry, furbabies, that these horrible “human beings” put u thru all this horror n pain. i DO hope that u’ll all heal n get better n go 2 awesome homes where u will b loved n treated AS YOU SHOULD BE………..
Look at them!!! A whole bunch of scum, low life’s! Damn them….every single one of them! Damn them to hell……to sit to the right of their BFF, Lucifer! Damn them! Those poor sweet darlings. They had no choice, but to fight. God! I so despise this filth on our earth! Again, Deanna…..spay and neuter humans? I’m all for it. I say casterate these bastards and sew up the bitch women involved. Am I being nasty, mean and hateful? You bet your ass I am and if someone wants to get PO’d about it….go for it. However, you would be much smarter, to direct your anger towards these monsters living and breathing, right next door to you. These uneducated, worthless, piles of trash need to be destroyed!!! Damn it! Put them out of our misery as well as, out of the misery of any other animal that could ever have the misfortune of being in their murdering, cruel hands. SOB! I am so pissed off right now. Damn it! Shoot these pond scum, POS, low life, garbage, roaches that invade our planet and wreak havoc on those poor defenseless baby’s. Look at that puppy’s face…my God. This is so freakin’ sick. We do not need this kind of filth in our world!
Sue…OMG! Right in your own area……that is terrifying!
Well I’m not going to watch it! OMG. I wonder how many people actually watched this offal inhumane thing? Except for the authorities that must watch it, no one else should. Isn’t ot the more hots they get, the longer it is shown? And do they get anything besides their perverted pleasure of causing excrutiating pain to something helpless and can’t fight back. They should add this to the death sentence and stop dragging their feet on whem it should be carried out. If an IT gets the death penalty they should have exactly 1 week to get their affairs in order and then the sentence should be carried out. They have a speedy trial on the books, so they should also have a speedy execution on them to. All the abusers,murders,rapist, pornographers,etc.,etc.,etc. and lets just clean house.
Andrea…I’m invious. I would LOVE to meet these guys. Angels on Harleys. Can you get me their autographs??? Wow…how cool would that be? I would blow up their picture and hang it on the wall in my living room. I love these guys! You are so lucky!
Dropped a not to the sheriff:
Dear Sheriff Dart and others involved:
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you…..angels each and every one of you that helped in the rescue of these beautiful dogs/puppy’s you rescued from Maywood, IL. You are the best. The reward you all receive by seeing the huge look of gratitude from these sweeties must be a wonderful feeling. I’ll bet you all have some beautiful dreams at night. Again, thank you, for the love and care you showed in saving these beautiful dogs….thank you……..
I sent Sheriff Dart an email on 9/27 and just received this reply:
<>
I’m pretty sure I got his email address here but can’t find it. If anyone else would like to email Sheriff Dart, his email address is: cookcountysheriffsoffice AT gmail DOT com
Suzanne
The quoted text seems to have been omitted, perhaps due to the brackets I used. Here it is again.
Sheriff Dart wrote: Suzanne, Thank you for the kind words. We hope that the news coverage will prevent others from committing such heinous crimes. I truly appreciate your email.
Suzanne, I got a similar email back from him, but I also emailed him back wanting to talk to him about sharing information on our national database. Hoping he gets back to me soon.
One of you said will this ever end well not until they give more severe punishment, I say life in jail that may deter, but if they are only giving fines or comunity sentence they are going to affend again it isn’t going to stop them, they are going to come out of jail after serving a small sentence and do it again or if they get a hefty fine they are going to do it again to get money to pay the fine, no dogs are safe from this scum of the earth. I think they should be destroyed like some of the dogs have to be because they are to vicious and can’t be rehabilated.