270 Chickens Seized in Cockfighting Case Euthanized

More than 200 chickens seized from an Odenton farm – whose owner faces 79 charges tied to cockfighting -- have been euthanized because they were infected with contagious diseases.

Ethan Samuel Harmon, 36, of 1248 Patuxent Road in Odenton, was charged June 8 with 18 counts of possession with intent to use a gaff to be used on a gamecock, four counts of possession with intent to use a sparring muff on a gamecock, and 67 counts of possession with intent to use a cock for the purpose of fighting another animal (cockfighting), according to the Anne Arundel County Police Department.

Maryland online court records show Harmon is scheduled to go on trial Aug. 21 in Anne Arundel County District Court.

The Capital-Gazette reports that police said the 270 chickens seized during the raid on Harmon’s farm were all destroyed because they tested positive for four types of infectious diseases.

State authorities told the newspaper the risk of contamination to neighboring farms was very low because summer heat and sunlight would kill any infectious agents within five days to two weeks of the birds’ removal from the property.

In early May, Anne Arundel County Animal Control officials were tipped that Hamon’s property was being used to house and fight roosters, otherwise known as gamecocks. On June 8, Vice Unit detectives, with assistance from Animal Control and Humane Society of the United States personnel, searched Harmon’s property.

Detectives found more than 200 birds, including gamecocks, hens and chicks, on the property, police say. All were removed by Animal Control. Detectives also located several items of paraphernalia indicative of cockfighting.

Authorities do not believe cockfighting was occurring at Harmon’s property, but that he was breeding birds there to be used in cockfights elsewhere.

»Photo of suspect Ethan Samuel Harmon of Odenton, courtesy of Anne Arundel County Police