A pizza delivery driver is being credited with helping to bust a rooster-fighting operation in Polk County.

Detectives said they found the rooster fighting and breeding compound based on a tip from a pizza delivery driver who delivered pizza to the location on Friday night while a cock fight was taking place.

On Monday, detectives went to the house on 21st Street NW in Winter Haven, where they found a rooster fighting ring inside a large barn. They also said they found equipment used for rooster fighting, including plastic boxing gloves to train the roosters to fight, ceramic spurs and bottles of medication from Mexico marked for rooster fighting.

In addition, detectives said they saw more than 60 roosters, hens and small chickens in cages and roaming free in the back of the barn. They said nine of the roosters had their combs and spurs trimmed and were ready to fight.

Deputies said the resident, Eliut Juse Serrano Hernandez, admitted that the roosters were his, that he maintained the property and that he had fought the birds there "one or two times."

Hernandez, 38, was taken into custody by deputies on charges of possession of animals for the purpose of fighting or baiting, possession of equipment used for fighting or baiting animals and leasing a property for the purpose of fighting or baiting animals. All charges are third-degree felonies.

Two other people - Oscar Feliciano Agudo, 42, and Christiane Ann Moser, 38 - were also arrested on drug charges.

More than 120 roosters and chickens were confiscated.

“We really appreciate this pizza delivery driver calling us," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. "Frankly, I can’t understand why someone would ask for a pizza delivery during an illegal cock-fight, but are happy to also make house calls."

