NEWTON COUNTY, Texas (KWTX) — The Newton County Sheriff’s Office arrested 45 people Saturday night during a raid on an active dog fighting operation in the Call community, culminating a months-long investigation that began in March.

Sheriff Colton Havard said deputies executed a search warrant on the evening of November 22 and discovered an active fight between two dogs in a pit constructed specifically for dog fighting. Most suspects fled into a wooded area but were captured by law enforcement.

The investigation, which authorities called “Operation Pitbull,” started in March 2025 after the sheriff’s office received numerous complaints and tips about dog fighting in the area.

Before serving the warrant, deputies used the department’s drone with thermal imaging technology to conduct surv

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