Brownsville man arrested for promoting dog fighting

Seven pit bulls, animal-fighting equipment seized

June 18, 2013 Kings County District Attorney’s Office

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Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes on Tuesday announced the indictment of Leslie Alexander, 39, of Boyland Street, for possessing seven pit bulls with the intent to use them in dog fighting.

On May 24, NYPD anti-crime officers executed a search warrant at Alexander’s Boyland Street home in search of guns and drugs. While in the house, officers found seven pit bulls and various equipment used to train and condition dogs for fighting.

Found in the home were approximately 25 dog kennels, scales with rope attachments used to strengthen the dogs’ jaws, hypodermic syringes, two dog treadmills to build stamina, and a breaking stick, which is used to break a dog’s grip on another animal or object.

In the rear of the building, the officers discovered that the garage had been converted into an arena for dog fighting and training. The officers also recovered a .40 caliber handgun and boxes of ammunition.

Animal Care and Control officers on the scene impounded the dogs, some of whom appeared to be underweight and which bore scars and signs of recent trauma consistent with dog fighting.

Alexander is charged with 22 counts of Prohibition of Animal Fighting, seven counts of Overdriving, Torturing and Injuring Animals, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree and Unlawful Possession of Ammunition. He will be arraigned on July 2. If convicted, he could face up to seven years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

District Attorney Hynes said, “Animal fighting is not a sport. It is a barbaric and inhumane practice and a serious crime. Training or breeding animals for fighting or intentionally causing animals to fight is a Class-E felony in New York State, punishable by up to four years in prison and a $25,000 fine.”