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The trial for a Washington, D.C. man who allegedly used his pit bull for dog fighting in a Landover park in January has been delayed.

Timothy Dwayne Brown, 30, of the 3700 block of Jay Street in Northeast Washington is charged with seven counts of cruelty to animals, two counts of possessing and training a dog for fighting purposes, trespassing, watching a dog fight and failing to obey police.

A new date has not been scheduled for Brown's trial, which was postponed from June 17, said Ramon Korionoff, a spokesman for the Prince George's County state's attorney's office.

Brown's attorney, Christopher A. Griffiths, of Riverdale, did not return calls by press time.

According to the criminal complaint, police found 12 to 15 men gathered around a plywood ring in an undeveloped wooded area known for dog fighting, while patrolling the 7700 block of Landover Road on Jan. 30.

"The males were shouting, cheering and reaching down into the plywood ring," an officer wrote in the criminal complaint.

As the officers approached, noise from a police radio drew the attention of the men involved in the dog fight, and the crowd quickly dispersed into the woods.

An officer was able to catch up with two of the spectators, Brown and William Curtis Carter, 35, who were out of breath, according to police. The men were covered in mud, thorns and ice from the bushes they fled through, and Brown also had fresh blood spatter on his face and hands, according to the criminal complaint.

Shortly after the arrest, officers found two badly injured pit bulls near the ring. A light brown pit bull was "badly mutilated" with lacerations to the face, neck and legs. A black and white dog, still in the ring, was barely able to walk and had several lacerations to his face and legs, with ligaments and bone exposed in one of its front legs, according to court documents.

Officers said in the criminal complaint there was fresh and dried blood on the plywood ring and a blue bucket outside of the ring that housed two yellow sponges used to clean off the blood.

According to previous criminal charges, Carter's last known address was in the District. He is also charged with seven counts of animal cruelty, disorderly conduct, trespassing and possessing and training a dog for fighting purposes.

Carter's trial is scheduled for Aug. 24. His attorney, David M. Simpson of Greenbelt, did not return calls by press time.

To see the criminal complaint, visit www.gazette.net/links