Warrant issued after animal abuse incident

A judge has issued a bench warrant for a Newport Beach woman accused of lying to police about her boyfriend’s alleged abuse of an 8-month old puppy in Westminster.

Angel Marie Holmes, 37, was scheduled to appear in court Monday for her arraignment on aiding and abetting Verne Joseph Strong, 56, also of Newport Beach. He’s accused of swinging a Chihuahua-dachshund mix around, using its leash around the neck like a lasso, in the parking lot of Wal-Mart in July.

Strong is scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 21. Holmes failed to appear in court Monday, court officials said. She’s accused of lying to police who questioned the pair after shoppers witnessed the incident and called police. The puppy, named Meanie, survived and was taken to a county animal shelter.

—Joseph Serna