Woman accused of howling like a dog arrested on disorderly intoxication charge

A woman said to have howled "like a dog" and harassed neighbours was arrested on a disorderly intoxication charge in a situation involving a lawnmower, recently released records show. The case against accused dog howler Merrilee Schwarz, 51, began before 11 p.m. on Sept. 14 after complaints that the owners of a home in the 4500 block of Southwest Cacao Street were "riding a lawnmower down the roadway, back and forth," a Port St. Lucie police report states.

A neighbour showed police video surveillance of a man riding the lawnmower in circles, but when investigators arrived the mower had been put away. At about 11:20 p.m., calls came in about a man and a woman "doing burnouts" in their vehicle. Police watched video that showed a vehicle "smoking the tyres" and revving the engine before Schwarz got out and started cursing and yelling.



"She then began to howl like a dog," the report states. The report didn't specify whether the howl resembled that of a particular breed or mix of dog. A neighbour said he felt "threatened and harassed" by Schwarz and the man, noting a history of disputes. Police warned Schwarz and the man. Investigators left and parked nearby to watch the neighbour's home.

Schwarz walked her dog to the neighbour's house and began again with the howling. She held a cup that "reeked" of booze. "Merrilee stated that she was celebrating because it's her birthday," a report states. Schwarz's listed birthday is about a week after the incident. Schwarz was arrested on a disorderly intoxication charge.