Lake Co. man charged with dogfighting

A 38-year-old Round Lake Beach man has been charged with running a dogfighting operation out of his Round Lake Beach home, police said.

Enrique Hernandez-Jaimes has been charged with dogfighting, a Class 4 felony, and possession of dogfighting equipment, a misdemeanor, Round Lake Beach Deputy Police Chief Rich Chiarello said. If found guilty, Hernandez-Jaimes could spend up to three years behind bars and fined up to $25,000,

Responding to a tip, police went to a home in the 1400 block of Lotus Drive and found various equipment that suggested dog fights were taking place, Chiarello said. Hernandez-Jaimes was charged and police confiscated three adult pitbulls and nine puppies from the home.

All three adult dogs had scars that are indicative of fighting, Chiarello said. An adult male and female have been euthanized. A second male is being evaluated to determine if he's safe for adoption. The puppies have been adopted by an undisclosed rescue operation, he added.

This is the second dog fighting ring broken up by Round Lake Beach police in the last year, Chiarello said. Two people were charged in September after police seized 27 dogs, all of which were used in dogfighting.

"This is successful due to the information we receive from the public, and diligent work by the investigators and officers involved," he said.