By By Adam Prestridge
A two-year investigation by the Escambia County Humane Society helped stop a dogfight before it began early Saturday morning, officials said.
Investigators with the Humane Society and the 21st Circuit Judicial Drug Task Force and officers with the Atmore Police Department arrived at the fight site on North Sunset Drive in Atmore prior to the event's start, resulting in the arrest of two of its alleged ringleaders.
John Stallworth, 28, of Beatrice and Terrance McNeil, 28, of Montgomery were both taken into custody at 4 a.m. on June 21 and arrested for cruelty to a dog.
Ssheriff Grover Smith said McNeil was released Sunday on a $20,000 bond and Stallworth was released on Monday on a $20,000 from the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton.
Upon further investigation, numerous dogfighting paraphernalia was confiscated from the dogfighting site.
At approximately 10 a.m. the same morning, investigators were called back to Atmore to and seized 12 more pit bulls at 547 Brazzell Hill Lane.
If you have any information about this case, you are asked to contact the Humane Society of Escambia County at 251-867-6860.