A year-long cockfighting ring investigation led to the arrest of a man and the seizure of 181 roosters in Van Zandt County. The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by the Wills Point Police Department and the SPCA of Texas, executed a search warrant at a residence in the 100 block of Va n Zandt County Road 1118 near Grand Saline at approximately 7:00 a.m on Thursday, July 16, 2026. Authorities seized 181 roosters, U.S. currency, cockfighting paraphernalia, and a travel trailer believed to have been used to transport roosters for cockfighting during the execution of the search warrant. Image of cages roosters were held in at a cockfighting ring in Van Zandt County. Investigators were able to obtain that search warrant after investigating for over a year. According to the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office, the investigation began in June 2026 after authorities received a report of suspected cockfighting activity at the residence. Justin Blake Hart from Grand Saline was served a warrant, arrested, and then transported to the Van Zandt County Detention Center for Felony Cockfighting. The seized roosters were transported to the SPCA of Texas’ Dallas facility. The investigation into the ring remains ongoing. ...read more read less