Port St. Lucie police accuse woman of howling, arrested on a disorderly intoxication charge

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - A woman said to have howled "like a dog" and harassed neighbors 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. 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 neighbor showed police video surveillance of a man riding the lawnmower in circles, but when investigators arrived the mower had been put up.

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 tires" and revving the engine before Schwarz got out and started cursing and yelling.

"She then began to howl like a dog," a report states.

The report didn't specify whether the howl resembled that of a particular breed or mix of dog. Nor did it state if the neighborhood has gone to the dogs.

Howl like a dog is not to be confused with "Bark at the Moon," an Ozzy Osbourne song and album, or "Howl," Allen Ginsberg's famed poem and a key work of the Beat Generation.

A neighbor 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 neighbor's home.

Schwarz walked her dog to the neighbor'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, of the 4500 block of Southwest Cacao Street in Port St. Lucie, was arrested on a disorderly intoxication charge.