A judge has issued an arrest warrant for Benjamin Talanca, 40, of Warren, after he failed to appear in court on animal cruelty and other charges. Talanca, who is suspected of having mental health issues, was scheduled for a hearing Thursday in Warren Municipal Court. He faces charges of animal cruelty, disorderly conduct, and trespassing.

The animal cruelty charge stems from an incident late last year at the Healthy Hearts and Paws shelter on Martin Luther King Avenue. The shelter was temporarily housing Talanca's dog following his involvement in a police incident. According to Healthy Hearts President Jason Cooke, Talanca arrived at the shelter on December 5, demanding the dog's return. Cooke stated that because the shelter lacked legal grounds to detain the dog, they were compelled to release it. Volunteers then witnessed Talanca becoming agitated.

"He grabbed the dog by the collar, twisted it, and berated the dog, calling it a bad service dog," Cooke told 21 News. During the ensuing altercation, Cooke wrestled Talanca to the ground to protect the animal. Talanca was subsequently arrested and booked into the county jail on an animal cruelty charge.

In a separate incident in late June, authorities filed another animal cruelty charge against Talanca. Police reports indicate he spat at and threw a can of iced tea at a woman who had asked him to stop striking his dog with a leash at Perkins Park. Talanca pleaded guilty to an assault charge, and in exchange, the animal cruelty charge was dropped. He was placed on one year of probation.

Court records indicate that an affidavit of mental illness has been filed on Talanca's behalf in probate court. During Tuesday's hearing, Warren Municipal Judge Patricia Knepp noted that Talanca may be non-compliant with probate court orders. She ordered that upon his arrest, Talanca will be held without bond until his mental health status can be assessed.

As a result of the December incident, Healthy Hearts and Paws has implemented 24/7 camera surveillance and will keep its doors locked to ensure the safety of its volunteers, according to Cooke.