Crime Time

SWAT team, Steven Seagal called in for cockfighting suspect's arrest

SWAT teams members in full gear make their way to a suspect's house. A bomb robot is deployed. Actor Steven Seagal approaches the house, riding in a tank.

No, it's not the latest action B-movie. It's a real-life arrest.

Phoenix TV news station KPHO reports that Sheriff Joe Arpaio sent dozens of SWAT team members, armored vehicles, a bomb robot and the aging action film star when the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant for a man accused of cockfighting.

The homeowner, Jesus Llovera, was alone and unarmed when he was arrested on suspicion of cockfighting.

In probably the most telling moment of all, a neighbor told reporters that Seagal's tank came in and pushed down a wall only to reveal a bunch of chickens.

Llovera's attorney said he believes there was no probable cause to believe his client was dangerous and the massive display of force was only used to boost ratings for Steven Seagal's reality TV show "Lawman."

The Sheriff's Department and Seagal apparently have a contract that has him tag along with the sheriff when arrests are made.

And as a sad postscript to this bizarre saga, 115 birds were euthanized on the spot. Won't somebody please think of the chickens?

-Chance Welch

Mayor bans TV crews from police raids after shooting death

The shooting death of a little girl during a Detroit police raid that was being videotaped for a reality TV show has prompted the city's mayor to ban TV crews from any future raids.

A crew from the reality show "The First 48" was on the May 19 raid when 7-year-old Aiya Stanley-Jones was fatally wounded.

Mayor Dave Bing said he was surprised the police chief hadn't told him that TV crews were being allowed on the raids, the Associated Press reported.

-- Lance Murray

'Deadliest Catch' employee charged with selling drugs

The fishermen stars of the hit TV show "Deadliest Catch," are known for their ability to catch tons of crabs in the Bering Sea.  It's a great reality show, full of action and interesting characters.

Police in the Alaskan town of Unalaska -- where the the show's home port of Dutch Harbor is located -- say that they made a catch of a different kind.

One of the show's production managers, 22-year-old Matthew Schneider, was charged April 27 with using and selling cocaine, after police said he delivered roughly $300 worth of cocaine to an undercover officer in March, the Associated Press reported.

The show is produced for the Discovery Channel by Original Productions, of Burbank, Calif.

Schneider, who is one of 18 people charged in the drug investigation, is not in custody and is the only employee of the show who has been charged, police said. Alaska State Troopers have been alerted to be on the lookout for him, the AP reported.

-- Lance Murray