Tolland, Conn./WTIC Radio - State and local officials say they've broken up a large scale cockfighting operation underway in Tolland.
State police and the Department of Agriculture spent the day and evening Saturday investigating a dormant quarry at Mountain Spring Road in town.
Tolland Town Manger Brian Foley said the detail was part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
He said the area where the illegal activity was taking place was in a secluded part of town and the quarry had not been in use in more than a decade.
More than 50 have been arrested and are facing charges.
Hundreds of birds were also found at the site, according to Foley.
"While this type of event is shocking, yesterday’s operation demonstrated clearly that the Town of Tolland is not the place to attempt this type of criminal activity,” said Foley.
Foley, a former Hartford deputy police chief, said he only encountered this type of activity twice in 27 years of law enforcement.
