Savannah dog-fighting suspect re-arrested while on bond, now charged with child sex crimes

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - One of the four men arrested, accused of running a dog-fighting ring on Central Avenue this fall, has now been re-arrested.

This time, on charges of sex trafficking and child molestation.

29-year-old Malik Anderson was arrested Tuesday night for trafficking a person for sexual servitude and aggravated child molestation charges.

He was one of the four men arrested on multiple dog-fighting-related charges back in September.

Including 9 counts of cruelty to animals, trafficking drugs, poss of tools for commission of a crime, violating Georgia’s controlled substances act, purchase-possession-manufacture-or sale of marijuana, prohibiting dog fighting or related conduct, and possession of a controlled substance.

He was on parole at the time of that arrest and was also charged with violating his terms.

Deputies raided two homes on Central Avenue in the Sandfly area. They seized pounds of different drugs, guns, and took multiple dogs from the home. You can find that full coverage here.

42-year-old Michael Scott, along with 53-year-old Rafeal Bowens, and his son, 26-year-old Tyleek Collins, were all arrested at those homes the day of the raid, in August.

Anderson was found and arrested on the 19th.

At the time of that hearing, deputies were still looking for Anderson.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, “The operation resulted in the seizure of approximately 20 pounds of marijuana, 150 fentanyl pills, cocaine, crack cocaine, multiple firearms, including assault-style rifles, and more than $135,000 in U.S. currency.”

Investigators also rescued 13 dogs, primarily pit bulls, believed to have been used in dogfighting. They also reported finding dogfighting and breeding equipment, along with genealogy records marked with slang tied to fighting and ‘wins’.

“Every single one of the dogs had various signs of neglect or cruelty,” said the investigator on the stand in court.

This case was starting its way through the system when Anderson was granted bond 2 months later and released from jail.

Those bond conditions from Judge Lisa Colbert included no new arrests and not being allowed back to Central Avenue.

Along with possessing no weapons, Anderson was on house arrest with an ankle monitor unless he was going to a court proceeding or meeting with his lawyer. He can’t have any dogs or contact with his 3 co-defendants.

He had to pay just $1,850.

It was 2 weeks to the date until Anderson was re-arrested. This time on trafficking a person for sexual servitude and aggravated child molestation charges.

Anderson has a criminal history dating back to when he turned 18. Most, if not all, are drug charges in Chatham County. WTOC has uncovered other charges related to aggravated assault, domestic violence, and cruelty to children in other Georgia counties.

He is being held on no bond right now.