FAIRHOPE, Ala. - In a wooded area about a mile east of the city-owned Quail Creek Golf Course, a wooden and wire-mesh cockfighting ring was at the center of a Sunday afternoon police raid that netted 18 suspects from Fairhope, Silverhill, Summerdale, Elberta and Foley on charges of attending or betting at a cockfighting event, conspiracy to promote gambling and animal cruelty.

“They had a pretty big cockfighting operation going,” Fairhope police spokesman Sgt. Craig Sawyer said Monday. “In Fairhope we have had rumors and reports, but this is the first time we’ve been able to actually catch one in progress.”

All charges are misdemeanors, but 12 of the suspects remain in jail pending review of their immigration status, Sawyer said.

“Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed a hold on some of them,” he said. “So, we’re still waiting for the feds to come evaluate them.”

At Monday night’s City Council meeting, Police Chief Bill Press said federal officials were expected to determine by today whether the detained suspects were illegal immigrants.

“We are obligated by law to hold them for ICE,” he said.

Responding to a tip Sunday afternoon of an ongoing cockfight the Red Barn Road area off County Road 33, police found live and dead roosters in cages, holes in the ground where dead birds were being buried, as well as sharp metal spurs and other fighting paraphernalia that were seized, along with 20 live birds now in the care of Fairhope’s animal control officer.

Several juveniles, aged 10 to 14, were also present but not charged and released to family members.

Alcoholic beverages were sold and admission charged to attend the Aug. 7 event, according to police, and investigators were seeking to determine the owner of the property.

These are the identities of the individuals arrested Sunday, according to police:

* Lisa Stuart, age 49, of Fairhope.

* Salvador Fabian-Guerrero, age 20, of Foley.

* Jose Davida-Rodriguez, age 42, of Fairhope.

* Rogelio Lemus-Fabian, age 35, of Summerdale.

* Salvador Fabian, age 25, of Foley.

* Juan Fabian, age 67, unknown address.

* Ancelmo Lemus-Huerta, age 55, of Foley.

* Pedro Lemus, age 38, of Foley.

* Santiago Enriquez-Guardian, age 38, of Foley.

* Melchon Lemus, age 26, of Foley.

* David Enriques Acuapa, age 33, of Silverhill.

* Reyes Fabian, age 39, of Fairhope.

* Francisco Mendoza-Estrada, age 24, of Summerdale.

* Ramon Jose Chavez, age 27, of Summerdale.

* Roman Tobon, age 40, of Elberta.

* Adrian Enriquez, age 40, of Silverhill.

* Sabastian Leyva Rangel, age 23, of Summerdale.

* Roberto Caballero, age 42, of Summerdale.

Although attending or betting at a cockfighting event carries no jail time and a maximum fine of $50, other charges carry fines of up to $3,000 and one year in jail.

“(We) are committed to enforcing all laws without exception, favoritism or prejudice,” Press said. “I’m sure recommendations will be made on a case-by-case basis, as it is in all cases, and those factors involved will be discussed with the prosecutor. It is my personal opinion, however, that all cruelty to animal cases are significant and should be prosecuted to the fullest.”