(Beth Clifton collage)
Were fins seen on the Mississippi River? Or did Sheriff Jim H. Johnson finally do his job?
TUPELO, Mississippi––Maybe two cockfights scheduled to have been held in rural Lee County, Mississippi on January 27 and January 28, 2024 were rained out, despite tin roofs over the cockpits.
Alternatively, Lee County officials may have finally ordered Sheriff Jim H. Johnson to do his job.
Perhaps alleged cockfighting hosts Tom Williams and Buddy Baughman just heard that the Showing Animals Respect & Kindness drone team had passed through Tupelo, the county seat, stopping on their way to visit the Lee County prosecutors and several elected officials.
The Buddy Baughman cockfighting pit in Lee County,
Mississippi. (SHARK photo)
Drones flew into cockpit
Baughman in particular might have been concerned, Showing Animals Respect & Kindness having already demonstrated the ability to fly drones right into his open-sided cockpit and collect video images sharp enough to show the chicken tracks.
Complaints from the public might have had an influence, too.
Emailed Showing Animals Respect & Kindness founder Steve Hindi to supporters on January 26, 2024, late enough that many out-of-state cockfighters were probably on their way to the pits, “The cockfights scheduled for this weekend in Lee County, MS are coming up fast! Tom Williams is Saturday, January 27, at 741 County Road 2578, Guntown, Mississippi 38849.
(Beth Clifton collage)
Gave directions
“Buddy Baughman is Sunday, January 28,” Hindi continued, “at 1113 County Road 506, Shannon, Mississippi 38868.
“The pit is the small building way in the back surrounded by trees,” Hindi mentioned.
Sheriff Jim H. Johnson, Hindi reminded, “has had plenty of notice to prove that he and his deputies have the ability to do their jobs and put an end to the cruel and illegal cockfights happening in Sheriff Jim Johnson’s jurisdiction. This weekend we will find out if he will!”
Sheriff Jim H. Johnson, Lee County, Mississippi.
(Beth Clifton collage)
A year earlier, in January 2023, Showing Animals Respect & Kindness informed Lee County sheriff Jim H. Johnson that intercepted cockfighting schedules showed three cockpits in the county with cockfighting derbies scheduled for the next two weeks.
Two of the scheduled cockfighting derbies were set for January 7, 2023.
Reminded Hindi in communications to Jim H. Johnson on that very day, “Tom Williams is holding an active cockfight right now,” and Hindi gave Johnson the coordinates.
“DL Parker is also holding an active cockfight right now, at 159A County Road 2350, Baldwyn,” Hindi continued. “The land is owned by Ben and Melinda Parker.”
But Jim H. Johnson and his deputies apparently did nothing with the tips.
(Beth Clifton collage)
“Most corrupt cop we’ve ever come across”
Hindi gave Sheriff Jim H. Johnson several more chances to stop Lee County cockfights in program before finally emailing to Showing Animals Respect & Kindness supporters, “Mississippi cockfighter Buddy Baughman will hold another cockfight in Lee County, Mississippi this Sunday, July 23, because he knows that corrupt Lee County Sheriff Jim Johnson won’t do a thing about it.
“Sheriff Johnson is quite possibly the most corrupt law enforcement officer we’ve ever come across,” Hindi charged, “which is really saying something given the corruption SHARK has dealt with over the past three decades.”
(See “Recognized” for trash pickup, Mississippi sheriff ignored cockfighters, Animal fighters go down in Mississippi, South Carolina, Florida, & Ohio, and Hitting cockfights in four states, SHARK takes on boxing champ Roy Jones Jr.)
This time was different.
(Beth Clifton collage)
Roosters spared
“Thanks to all your calls and submitted tips, the cockfights scheduled in Lee County, Mississippi have been cancelled!” Hindi exulted to the Showing Animals Respect & Kindness email list on January 27, 2024.
“This successful intervention means that a significant number of roosters have been spared from being killed for human entertainment this weekend,” Hindi said.
Hindi concluded his July 23, 2023 advisory about cockfights scheduled for Lee County by noting that, “Unfortunately, Lee County isn’t the only place where criminal operations are ongoing. The cockpit in Tippah County, Mississippi has an illegal fight scheduled for Saturday, July 29, 2023.”
Though Showing Animals Respect & Kindness repeatedly notified Tippah County sheriff Karl Gaillard of the cockfighting derby to be held there, Gaillard apparently did nothing about it.
Beth & Merritt Clifton
Showing Animals Respect & Kindness gave Gaillard another chance on December 16, 2023, tipping him off to a cockfight in progress, but again Gaillard apparently did nothing about it.
Where was Hindi headed on his way through Tupelo recently?
Tippah County, Hindi told ANIMALS 24-7.
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