Report: Mike Vick Dogfighting 'An Open Secret'

[underpants]

Source: AOL

Did anyone in the Atlanta Falcons organization know that Michael Vick was involved in dog fighting? If not, was that because they were willfully ignorant?

A report in today's Atlanta Journal-Constitution calls Vick's involvement in dog fighting "an open secret," but says that no one who knew of it told anyone in the Falcons' front office. The biggest problem was that the information was mostly in the form of vague rumors:


Since 2004, several anonymous people had called PETA claiming dog fights were being staged on Vick's property in Surry County, Va. Vick bought the land in 2001 specifically to set up a dogfighting operation, federal authorities now allege.

The tips were "not specific enough that we or anyone else could do anything else with it," said Dan Shannon, PETA's assistant program director. But "when the name Michael Vick is involved, it perks your ears up."

The organization passed the information to law enforcement officials in Virginia, Shannon said. Even then, he said, he knew it was too vague for police to obtain a search warrant.



Read more: http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/09/05/report-mike-vick-dogfighting-an-open-secret/

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Atlanta Journal-Constitution link
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/falcons/stories/2007/09/04/vickfalcons_0905.html

[mitchum]

1. One of my students told me 2 years ago that Vick "fought dogs"...

this was a 16 year old learning disabled student who lived 60 miles from Atlanta.
So, I would say that it was indeed an open secret

[northernsoul]

2. Why would a tipster call PETA and not the ASPCA?

I doubt PETA has any kind of enforcement powers or cooperative relationship with law enforcement. Their main area of expertise seems to be bone-headed publicity stunts that ultimately undermine their credibility. The ASPCA, on the other hand, appears to be actually capable doing something constructive for animals. http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cruelty_investigate

[underpants]

3. Not sure but PETA is headquartered in Norfolk

which is in the area. I don't know but that maybe could be the reason.

[LiberalFighter]

4. Too vague for police to obtain a search warrant?

What does it take?

Geesh! They could had kept a closer watch on the place. And when there was more activity than normal observe who was arriving and leaving the place. To obtain a warrant you have to investigate and gather evidence that may lead to additional evidence.

Dumb ass police. I bet local law enforcement was involved.

[idgiehkt]

5. probably

I think when they are worried about a potential lawsuit by someone who can drag them through the courts it might make them hesitate. Pretty much you have to catch a dog-fight in progress in some areas to get convictions that will stick. Laws are slowly changing so that people can be charged if they have things like treadmills, steroids, etc on the property that are used in dog training. What got Vick was the new law about transporting dogs across state lines for the purpose of fighting, that made it federal and when his witnesses flipped and testified it was all she wrote.

[LiberalFighter]

6. The point I believe is that the police did not make an effort...

to determine if there was probable cause. Unusual number of visitors to the property. Checking out reports of animal abuse. Determining if the kennel or other buildings were built without required permits. Unusual activity at night.

I still believe that the local law enforcement were involved in protecting Vick's illegal activities.