BLUE ASH, Ohio -- At least one person and 14 dogs are in custody after a dog fighting investigation in Blue Ash.
Blue Ash police said officers were dispatched Sunday to a complaint of subjects fighting dogs at a home at 9712 Jefferson Ave.
"I heard the dogs snarling, growling – you know, sounding kind of vicious – but I didn't know they were fighting them back there," said neighbor Ken Van Horn.
Officers executed a search warrant Wednesday morning at the home.
Police said one person was arrested and 14 pit bulls were seized. One adult was found to be in possession of marijuana, police said.
"I knew he was raising them and selling them, he had told me that before, but no, I didn't know he had that many dogs," Van Horn said.
The home's owner, Bill Stone, 36, was charged with cruelty to animals, dogfighting and two misdemeanor drug offenses.
Another resident, 22-year-old Michael Ellsworth, also was charged with cruelty to animals and dogfighting, and a third person was cited for a misdemeanor drug offense and released.
Police said the dogs were caged up and were hesitant to leave with animal control officers.
"It's kind of sickening, frankly, to see them in this type of condition," said Chief Chris Wallace, of Blue Ash police. "They had visible signs of injury. Some of the wounds on the dogs were open, and at least a couple of them had what looked like to be deep cut wounds on different parts of their body."
The search warrant was executed with the assistance of the Hamilton County Police Association SWAT Team, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Hamilton County SPCA.