HOWLAND — A township woman wanted in a case of animal cruelty out of Howland was arrested and booked into the county jail after being picked up on a warrant Saturday night.

Breigh Mechling, 33, of Elizabeth Avenue SE, had a warrant issued for her arrest by the Warren city prosecutor’s office Nov. 30 for failing to appear in Warren Municipal Court on four misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals. Mechling pleaded not guilty during a Monday arraignment and her bond was set at $2,5000.

She was arrested by Liberty police Saturday after an officer had been patrolling what he described as a “high crime area” known for drug trafficking, human trafficking, gang activity, gun crimes, fugitives and other crimes, the report states.

While checking the parking lot of a motel at 4250 Belmont Ave., the officer reported seeing a man and woman, later identified as Mechling, carrying items from an SUV. After running the plates, a warrant for Mechling’s arrest out of municipal court prompted the officer to approach the pair.

Mechling and the man, later identified as Christopher Flynn, tried to enter their motel room as the officer approached, the report states.

Later, the pair exited the room and were questioned by police. Flynn gave the officer several fictitious last names before identifying him. A search also found he had methamphetamine in his possession.

Police ran Flynn’s information and found he had several arrest warrants, including a warrant out of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court for drug charges, and arrested him, the report states.

Two dogs were removed from the motel room and later were placed into the custody of Jason Cooke of Healthy Hearts and Paws project. Cooke told police he had picked up three other dogs belonging to Mechling in Howland.

The police report from that incident states that police arrived to Mechling’s home to recover animals but when officers arrived, Mechling sped off in a vehicle.

A man told police Mechling had called him to her home to pick up the dogs. According to the report, he alerted Cooke of the dogs’ conditions after finding they were not being taken care of or fed, and lacked water and shelter.

One dog was reportedly throwing up fluids. Police said that indicated the dog hadn’t eaten in “quite some time.” Another dog was observed in the snow seemingly “scared,” the officer reported. Police said one dog had nearly every bone in its body showing through its skin and another dog was found bleeding from open wounds. A cat was found with bugs jumping on it, the report states.

Cooke and his organization took custody of the animals.