The search warrant application that led to the arrest of Kenneth Brooks on dog baiting and city ordinance violations was not only based on Wednesday’s observations by Roanoke Rapids police but an encounter in 2009 with the man.

Narcotics Agent Jamie Hardy filed for the search warrant Wednesday after it was reported a large number of dogs were being kept at 84 Jefferson Street, according to the application filed in the clerk of court’s office in Halifax.

“Some of them showed signs of dogfighting,” the application said. “When I arrived I could hear animals in the woods next door to the Brooks residence. When I entered the woods I saw the dogs were tied to large logging chains that were tied to what appeared to be a large steel rod or car axle (in) the ground.”

The application notes the dogs were tied just far enough so they could not reach one another but close enough to cause them to taunt each other. “Two of the dogs I noticed had obvious signs of fighting. The scars about the face a legs on the animal is clearly visible and in my training and experience is consistent with dogfighting.”

An earlier encounter with Brooks on August 12, 2009, was also noted in the warrant when Hardy went to the house on a report that he was allegedly growing marijuana. “In the process of searching the residence there was a large amount of information about his dogs that he owned and at the time was keeping at his home in Virginia,” the application said. “Based on that the information I noticed during my first encounter and the dogs I have personally witnessed having apparent fighting wounds and scars, I respectfully request the issuance of this search warrant …”

The search warrant was approved and the police department removed evidence from the house that a leading expert on animal fighting issues said is consistent with dogfighting.