Undercover investigators from Animal Wellness Action and SHARK infiltrated a massive Independence Day event, leading to the arrest of Timothy Thompson and exposing a pervasive illegal network.
In a victory for animal welfare advocates, Timothy Thompson, dubbed a “cockfighting kingpin” by activists, has been arrested in Mount Pleasant, Texas, after undercover investigators from Animal Wellness Action and Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK) infiltrated a large-scale cockfighting derby held on the Fourth of July.
The arrest follows a months-long effort by the two organizations, who had previously documented a similar massive event at Thompson’s complex in March but saw no immediate law enforcement action. This time, however, the detailed evidence gathered by investigators proved instrumental in securing a warrant and bringing Thompson into custody.
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Undercover operatives with Animal Wellness Action and SHARK received a tip about the July 4 derby. They deployed drones and managed to gain inside access to the cockfighting complex, capturing disturbing footage of roosters, fitted with knives on their legs, engaged in brutal, staged fights within an enclosed pit.
The organizations immediately presented this compelling evidence to the Titus County Sheriff’s Office, leading to the swift obtainment of a warrant.
“Tim Thompson is a major player in cockfighting in northeast Texas, with a fighting pit and hundreds of fighting birds at his cockfighting complex in Mount Pleasant,” stated Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action. “This is the second time we’ve caught him organizing a major cockfighting derby, and that is a felony under state and federal law. His world is about to change because of his serial violations of anti-cruelty laws.”
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Steve Hindi, president of SHARK, echoed Pacelle’s sentiments, emphasizing the brazen nature of Thompson’s alleged continued criminal activity.
“We have abundant video evidence of a major cockfighting derby, and the property is owned by Tim Thompson,” Hindi said. “It’s hard to believe this guy kept committing crimes after we exposed his cockfighting complex in March, but he obviously thinks he’s above the law. He is not.”
Beyond the Mount Pleasant bust, the animal welfare groups also documented two other cockfighting events in Kaufman County on Saturday, July 5, providing detailed evidence to the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office for further action.
The March incident at Thompson’s property had seen sheriff’s deputies respond, but they were unable to enter due to locked gates, and a warrant was not pursued at the time. This recent success highlights the effectiveness of the undercover evidence in prompting decisive law enforcement intervention. Authorities expect further charges to be filed against the numerous attendees of the Independence Day spectacle.
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Animal Wellness Action and SHARK have been actively investigating and exposing illegal cockfighting operations across the “cockfighting corridor,” a region spanning from southeast Oklahoma to the Dallas area. Their efforts have led to investigations in Dallas, Ellis, Hunt, and Martin counties in Texas, as well as significant operations in Oklahoma.
“Our investigations show a criminal network of cockfighters knowingly flouting state and federal laws. That’s why passing the FIGHT act in Congress is an urgent priority for the nation,” Pacelle urged.
The FIGHT Act has bipartisan support from Texas Representatives Lloyd Doggett (D-37), Lance Gooden (R-5), and Troy Nehls (R-22) in the House, and Senator John Cornyn (R) in the Senate.
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