ROCKWELL — A small neighborhood off of Roy Cline Road was home to an illegal chicken fighting ring, according to the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office.

On Saturday afternoon, Rowan County 911 received several anonymous calls reporting that people in the area of 655 Geneva Drive, Rockwell, were holding a chicken fight. When deputies arrived at the address, they reported seeing 15 to 20 men take off running into the woods behind the home.

Chickens were found tied to the backs of several cars parked in the yard, and the property had a fenced off area covered with a tarp roof. Sheriff’s deputies said there were blood and feathers on the ground and on the fence of the area. There were also several dead chickens lying around, and cages containing live chickens. Rowan County Animal Control was asked to come to the home to assist.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, deputies found razor spurs often put on chickens during fights, scales, event tracking sheets, a record book, an electronic time clock, ID straps, rolls of sticky twin and scissors.

Animal Control collected more than 30 live chickens from those tied to vehicles or found in cages. More than 15 dead chickens were collected from around the fighting ring.

As of Sunday afternoon, four arrests have been made in the case, including the owner of the Geneva Drive home, Victor Manuel Garcia, 37.

Manuel Villa Ocampo, 36, Marcial Clemente Rodriguez, 35 and Rogelio Leonardo Calderas, 44, were also arrested.

All four suspects have been charged with cockfighting, a felony, and placed in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $1,500 secured bond. Their first court appearance is scheduled for Monday at 9 a.m. in Rowan County District Court.