Photos by Jordan Fifer | The Roanoke Times

A bulletin board in the Bedford County Sheriff's office details over a dozen arrests and charges made over the past two weeks.

Bedford County officials seized 39 roosters, game spurs and betting slips, among other cockfighting paraphernalia, from Avery Fitzgerald of Coleman Falls. The animals are reportedly in good condition and are being kept at the Bedford County Animal Control office until a civil hearing evaluates the evidence against Fitzgerald.

Bedford County officials have made 16 arrests over the past two weeks for offenses including burglary, gun possession, narcotic sales and cockfighting-related violations that involved the seizing of nearly 40 roosters.

Sheriff Mike Brown announced the busts Tuesday afternoon at a news conference and said that in most of the cases, the arrests were sparked by anonymous tips and drug buys by undercover officers.

The suspects were arrested in Boonsboro, Big Island, Moneta, Stewartsville, New London, Forest and Bedford by Bedford and Rockbridge county officials with assistance from Lynchburg and Bedford police, and Virginia State Police.

Brown said the sheriff's office cultivated anonymous sources by placing a full-page advertisement in October in The Bullet, a free marketing newspaper with circulation in Bedford County. The ad thanked "Bedford's unsung heroes" for supplying authorities with tips, and Brown said anonymous tips "have increased over twofold."

"Several arrests were as a result of this ad," he said.

Among the arrests announced Tuesday, Avery Fitzgerald of Coleman Falls, which is northwest of Lynchburg, was charged with two counts of selling animals for fighting purposes.

Miller said that undercover agents, operating on an anonymous tip, bought two fighting roosters from Fitzgerald. On Tuesday, investigators approached Fitzgerald, received his consent to search his home and discovered 39 roosters, game spurs, betting slips and a fighting pit, among other cockfighting paraphernalia.

Maj. Ricky Gardner said the agents paid about $100 apiece for the two roosters, which remain in the possession of the sheriff's office. The roosters seized Tuesday are reportedly in good condition and are being kept at the Bedford County Animal Control office until a civil hearing evaluates the evidence against Fitzgerald.

With the exception of one man charged with statutory burglary and grand larceny, all of the other arrests announced Tuesday were drug-related. The charges included counts of distribution of cocaine, heroin and marijuana, and four people were charged with distribution within a school zone. Brown said those instances of drug activity took place near elementary and high schools, but not on school grounds.

"This was all distribution, no mere possession," Brown said, describing the suspects as middle- or upper-level dealers. "These were guys making a pretty good living selling drugs in Bedford County."

Two men charged with drug offenses remain at large.

Eric Bryant is charged with distribution of cocaine and misdemeanor distribution of marijuana, and his whereabouts are unknown.

Lawrence Barlow of Roanoke is charged with distribution of heroin and conspiracy to distribute heroin. Authorities said they believe he could be in the Delaware area.

Staff videographer Jordan Fifer contributed to this report.