West Memphs dog-fighting ring busted, 35 animals seized

Shelter director, bitten during roundup, asks community for help

By Ralph Hardin

news@theeveningtimes.com

Arkansas consistently ranks near the bottom when it comes to state animal welfare laws (39th out of 50 in 2023), according to Animal Legal Defense Fund data.

That might lend itself to why Arkansas has seen more than its share of dog-fighting cases in recent years. It might also play a role in how West Memphis came to join Little Rock, El Dorado, Texarkana, Hot Springs, and other Arkansas Communities on a list of cities where dog-fighting operations have been busted.

According to a Crittenden County Sheriff’s Department report, deputies with the CCSD Criminal Investigation Division were following up on a tip on Sundat about a possible illegal dog fighting (dog fighting is a felony in all 50 states). Upon arrival at the residence, located at 800 Proctor Road, they found injured and dead animals on the property.

Investigators on the scene reported that they received consent to check the welfare of other animals on the property and found evidence to support the suspected dog-fighting circle. Benrick Comming and Lee Reynolds, both of Proctor, were arrested in connection with the operation. They are facing charges of aggravated cruelty to animals, unlawful animal fighting, unlawful dog attack, and several weapons charges, including theft of a firearm as police also found stolen guns and drugs inside the residence.

The dogs were seized as part of the investigation. Kerry

See DOGS, page A2

Photos courtesy of West Memphis Animal Shelter

REYNOLDS

COMMING DOGS

From page A1

Facello, director of the West Memphis Animal Shelter was attacked by a dog while crews from the West Memphis and Marion animal shelters worked with Crittenden County deputies to round up all of the animals on the residence. She was bitten on the right leg “about 14 times” Facello said that, aside from the one dog unfortunately found dead, the other dogs taken were in surprisingly good condition, noting “there were only a few that had superficial wounds that we could access on site.”

The West Memphis and Marion shelters split the burden of taking in and caring for the 35 dogs that were taken into custody. On Tuesday, Facello shared the state of the overtaxed shelters while streaming on Facebook wering a bandage over her wounded leg but unwilling to take time off of work.

“We are struggling right now,” she said. “Each of us individually and as a crew.

The challenges are insurmountable. Two days ago we worked a scene where we seized 35 dogs with the help of all our law enforcement partners. We hope to be back on track soon. Right now we are just a little broken.”

Reynolds, a first time offender, was being held on a $15,000 bond, bound over to Circuit Court on state felony charges of Aggravated Animal Cruelty and Unlawful Dogfighting.

Comming, who has a length previous criminal record, was held on a $75,000 bond. His case was also bound over to Circuit Court. He is facing a dozen charges, including Aggravated Animal Cruelty and Unlawful Dogfighting, as well as six counts of Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm, two counts of Theft of a Firearm with a Value of Less Than $2,500, Possession of a Schedule VI Controlled Substance Less Than 4 Ounces, and Unlawful Dog Attack.

The pair oare due back in court on Nov. 19.