From The Press of Atlantic City — A 52-year-old city man is facing drug and animal-cruelty charges after a drug bust at his home led to the discovery of a half-dozen fighting roosters.

At about 2:30 p.m. Friday, a lengthy drug investigation led authorities to the home of Eugenio Ortiz in the 300 block Liverpool Avenue.

According to police Chief John McColgan, law-enforcement officers found more than an ounce of cocaine in Ortiz’s home and numerous kinds of fowl, including six roosters used for cock fighting.

The conditions of the animals were not immediately available.

They were turned over to animal-control officers, McColgan said.

Ortiz was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance.

Ortiz was transferred to the Atlantic County Jail on $35,000 cash bail set by Judge William Cappucio. He made bail Saturday morning and was released.

“The SPCA police unit will also file animal-cruelty charges next week,” McColgan said.

The investigation was led by Detective Steve Hadley and Patrolman Dylan Hutton, who were assisted by Detective Sgt. John Thompson Jr. of the Mullica Township Police Department, the State Police’s South Unit and SPCA police officers.

“The Egg Harbor City Police Department is continually committed to improving the quality of life in this city,” McColgan said.

Original version of this article can be viewed at:
http://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/press/atlantic/article_b53ba9ef-9beb-5728-9678-001889dec33d.html