Facebook video lands suspect in jail
By Nathan Owens
Staff Writer
EL DORADO — Darrell L. Love, 33, of El Dorado, was arrested Tuesday after a series of events that stemmed from Love being tagged in a Facebook video of a local dogfight.
He is being charged with aggravated cruelty to an animal and unlawful animal fighting, both class D felonies. He made his first appearance on Wednesday with Union County District Court Judge Jack Barker presiding.
“If the facts are true, I see this as a heinous act,” Barker said. “You will have no possession of any animals during the course of this case.”
On Jan. 3, Union County Animal Control Officer Charles Hartsell told police about two people involved in a video sent to him from Union County Animal Protection Society. Love was tagged in a Facebook video uploaded by Charles Taylor — Facebook alias: Taylor Made — that showed Love and Taylor facing the dogs and releasing them to fight, according to the El Dorado Police Department.
Hartsell confirmed that he also showed investigators photographs of the Facebook post and the string of comments that followed.
Detective Ryan Landers investigated further into the case and later arrested Love on Tuesday near the 1100 block of Wilson Street. Prior to the search Love told Landers he had a small bag of marijuana in his right pants pocket, and is facing a misdemeanor drug possession charge, according to the report.
He is being held in lieu of a $10,000 cash or corporate surety bond and is bound to circuit court for further proceedings.
Dogfighting is a type of blood sport in which dogs are forced to fight one another for the entertainment and/or profit of spectators, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. While it is a felony in every state, dogfighting continues to be a problem.
Hartsell said he is aware of the dogfighting hotspots in El Dorado and Union County and he is working with law enforcement to find those responsible.
“It’s a serious problem in the country, specifically in the South and Union County,” Hartsell said.
According to the Humane Society of the United States: In 2007 nearly 250,000 dogs were placed in fighting pits nationwide—excluding cockfighting or bait animals—and about 40,000 people were involved in organized dogfighting with an additional 100,000 as street-level fighters.
Shortly after Love’s arrest, Hartsell posted onto the Union County Animal Control Facebook Page this comment: “Today was a good day! 1 dog fighter off the street! Thank you EPD detectives.”
Anyone with information regarding animal cruelty reports or suspect Charles Taylor can contact Union County Animal Control or local police.
Nathan Owens is a staff writer for the El Dorado News-Times and can be contacted via email: [email protected].