By Elizabeth Ferszt
Contributing Writer
In a shocking discovery, 36 fighting birds — roosters, were found dead in a Hopkins Twp. property on Oct. 3.
Local law enforcement received tips about a cockfighting and betting ring from an animal rights organization called SHARK (Showing Animals Respect and Kindness), but were slow to act, according to SHARK.
On its own initiative, SHARK allegedly employed drones to investigate, and captured footage of a cockfight in action on July 26. They shared this video with Allegan County Sheriff’s deputies, who then wrote a warrant to search the premises on July 29.
They uncovered further evidence, resulting in Allegan County Prosecutor charging Edin Rodas (age 37) of Hopkins Twp. with four counts of felony animal fighting, and a single count of third-degree animal abuse (killing and torturing) of birds.
SHARK is listed as a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation that is domiciled in Geneva, Illinois. On their webpage they state that they were founded about 18 years ago by an active hunter and gun owner, Steve Hindi, who “witnessed a horrific example of live pigeon shooting” that changed his perspective on killing animals, in particular, birds. Hindi was elected to the Animal Rights Hall of Fame in 2006.
On their Facebook page, they seem to be also very aware of, and concerned about, alleged abusive animal treatment at rodeos. They also have a “Report Cockfighting!” tip line (630-385-0244). But there is no mention of the Allegan County cockfighting ring — they have many posts and short articles about other similar activities that they apparently had a role in disrupting, like cockfighting rings in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kentucky.
In a series of text messages with Steve Hindi, contacted via the tip line and email, he confirmed that their surveillance was done by “our drones.” And when asked about evidence of gambling, Hindi stated, “Gambling is the point of cockfighting. Yes, there was some evidence.”
In a phone call with Hindi on Oct. 5th, the Allegan County News was able to establish further details about the July 26th cockfighting incident in Hopkins.
“Let me be clear,” he said. “We were on the phone with the sheriff when our drones were in the air” on July 26. “And they had information about the cockpit two weeks before the July 26th event… and did nothing,” Hindi said.
“Neighbors had been calling them [Allegan Co. Sheriff] for years,” complaining about possible cockfighting and/or animal abuse. “The Sheriff had access, it’s only about 1 mile outside Hopkins, not like 100 miles away, as it can be out west,” Hindi added, meaning that law enforcement was close by and could act quickly.
Of the Sheriff’s response, “They said ‘we’re not going to go [to the alleged cockfighting site]. We have a fair [to cover]. We are short-handed.’”
Later, Undersheriff Mike Larsen emailed Steve Hindi in a kind of apology, “‘We didn’t handle this right,’” Hindi says that Larsen wrote.
“We provided them with nine other identities, including a local school sports coach; but other than the homeowner (Edin Rodas), no one else has been arrested,” Hindi said.
When asked if they (SHARK) are themselves breaking the law in using drones to fly over private property, Hindi explained there are no 4th Amendment (search, seizure, and surveillance) violations because they are not government actors. And no FAA violations in terms of how the drones are piloted.
Regarding the likelihood of gambling, although no charges have been filed for illegal gambling, Hindi said that in the video “you can see two guys passing money to each other, paying off a bet.”
According to Lt. Mike Brown of the Allegan Co. Sheriff’s Office, they “suspect that there was betting/gambling going on at the event,” [but] they “did not find any evidence of that, however.”
Brown also stated, “There were no other animals involved in the fighting that we are aware of at this time.”
Regarding the 36 rosters who were dead, Hindi said, “They need to dig a lot more holes on that property and find a lot more birds.”
In regard to the lead suspect Edin Rodas, Brown stated, “Mr. Rodas did not wish to provide us with a statement” about the birds.
“Not all cockfighters in this one come from Hopkins,” Hindi warned. Many are coming from outside, out-of-state, even from Mexico, he added.
“Cockfighting is a conduit for all other crimes: gambling, drugs, guns, human trafficking — it attracts criminals.”
“It’s also a pathway for disease vectors that can enter the legal poultry production population, affecting the food supply,” Hindi added.
In terms of cultural background, according to AI Overview, “cockfighting is a deeply rooted tradition from the Portuguese and Spanish, and a multibillion-dollar industry in the Philippines and other countries. It is regulated by their government in licensed venues, but “also associated with illegal gambling, violence, and crime.”
