Two people were arrested after the Brevard County Sheriff's Office uncovered a dog fighting ring Saturday night.
Deputies responded to 435 Easy St., in Merritt Island, after the Sheriff's Office was tipped off by a concerned citizen who heard what they believed was animal cruelty in progess.
Deputies found several severely malnourished dogs, as well as a fighting ring and visible blood on the fighting structure and the dogs.
Agents from the Sheriff's Office's Special Investigations units and Brevard County Animal Services responded to the scene, collected evidence and safely rescued the dogs.
Agents arrested Altrevius Byron, 41, and Edsheina Thomas, 32, both of Merritt Island.
Byron was charged with fighting dogs and was taken to the Brevard County Jail, where he's being held on no bond. Byron is currently on federal probation and has a lengthy violent criminal history, including sexual battery, battery and assault on law enforcement officers, weapons, narcotics and resisting arrest charges.
Thomas was charged with cruelty to animals. She was taken to the Brevard County Jail, where she's being held on $500. Thomas has a local criminal history, including aggravated child abuse, theft and multiple narcotics charges.
The dogs were seized and taken to the Sheriff's Office's Animal Services Center for emergency medical treatment.
In addition to the dogs, deputies found cash and firearms. The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call the Brevard County Sheriff's Office at 321-633-1216 or Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS (8477).