PROVO — More than a dozen people were arrested in Provo early Sunday when police busted an illegal cockfighting operation.

Police say the investigation began as a “welfare check.”

“During the course of a welfare check, officers were alerted to possible organized fighting involving roosters located at 1215 W. 600 South. Further investigation into the address history showed that there was a previous report of animal fighting, back in 2019,” a police booking affidavit states.

As part of their investigation, detectives flew a drone over the property and observed several people entering and exiting a shed.

“Drone footage also showed several vehicles in the parking area and showed people loading cages in and out of vehicles,” according to the affidavit.

An officer in an unmarked vehicle the

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