2 arrested in cockfighting case that began with a teen at school with a gun

WEST JORDAN — Two men accused of engaging in game fowl fighting, commonly referred to as cockfighting, were arrested Thursday in West Jordan.

And police say their monthslong investigation started because of a separate investigation where a teenager was removed from a high school for allegedly threatening to kill a teacher and was found on school property two months later with a gun.

Jose Velazquez-Rodriguez, 63, and Miguel Angel Garnica Oliva, 45, were arrested Thursday for investigation of game fowl fighting.

The investigation originated in January when a 16-year-old boy — who had been removed from Kearns High School and accused of threatening to kill a teacher and was not allowed on school property — was spotted back on campus, according to charging documents.

The teen had been kicked out of the school because of an incident in November when a teacher heard the boy using profanity in the hallway and asked him to watch his language. The teen “became defiant and stated that he could say whatever he wanted to” and then bumped the teacher and said, “I will kill you. … You are lucky you are a teacher,” according to charges filed in 3rd District Juvenile Court.

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