LYNWOOD | A 42-year-old Sauk Village man turned himself into to police Thursday to face 21 counts of felony dogfighting.

Harry F. Starks already had faced animal cruelty charges following the May 12 seizure of 21 pit bulls found chained in a field behind a Lynwood residence in the 3500 block of Glenwood-Dyer Road.

Lynwood Police Chief Russell Pearson said the charges were upgraded after a search warrant -- executed May 20 at Starks' Sauk Village home -- turned up additional paraphernalia and paperwork associated with dogfighting. Investigators also seized one dog, Pearson said.

"(The search warrant) provided evidence to link him closer to dogfighting," Pearson said.

The initial May 12 seizure came after investigators -- acting on a tip -- found 21 dogs chained in a field behind a Lynwood home, Pearson said.

Fifteen of the dogs were about 200 yards from the road and secured with short, heavy chains in a horse pasture, police said. The dogs had no food or water within reach but appeared healthy, police said.

About 100 yards to the southwest, police found six more dogs and a vehicle that contained newsletters and photos associated with dogfighting, Pearson said. While searching the area, investigators found a breeding rack and a contraption that can be used to strengthen a dog's jaw, he said.

Police then arrested Starks after he returned home to find Lynwood police officers, officials from the Cook County Sheriff's Department and the Cook County Animal Control Department on the property, police said.

Starks, who was free on bond, had been scheduled to appear for a June 11 hearing in Cook County Court in Markham on 21 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty and 21 counts of misdemeanor animal neglect.

A bond hearing in Cook County court was scheduled for today, Pearson said.