Authorities are searching for a man suspected of pit bulls fighting.

A bench warrant has been issued for 29-year-old Andrew Allan Ford, of Batesville, for first-degree unlawful animal fighting.

According to court documents, officers of the Independence County Sheriff’s Office and Batesville Police Department executed a search warrant of his residence on West Dota Creek Road.

The probable cause affidavit stated during the search among the items found were 20 dogs, including two puppies, three pieces of animal hide and two rotting dog carcasses.

The report states a neighbor told law enforcement that the dogs belonged to Ford and another person. They said the dogs had been used for fighting and that they had witnessed this on at least one occasion.

Ford has a criminal history of prior felony convictions including possession of a firearm by certain persons in Stone County in February 2017.

Anyone with information about this crime or Ford’s whereabouts is asked to please contact the Independence County Sheriff’s Office at 870-793-8838 or the Batesville Police Department at 870-569-8111.