Two people have been arrested as suspects in an animal cruelty case that left a  puppy dead and discarded in a Scottsdale alley, police said.

Lester Paul Richmond, 35, and Heather Auditor, 32, have been charged with one count of animal cruelty. Auditor also faces one count of hindering prosecution, police said.

The husky’s body was found late last month in an alley near Miller Road and Latham Street.

Richmond and Auditor were arrested July 20 during a traffic stop near Miller Road and Pierce Street, authorities said. Detectives later served a search warrant at the pair’s home and “found additional evidence related to the case,” police said in a statement.

Police began an investigation on June 27 after the puppy’s body was found by someone walking through the alley. The puppy appeared to have had its mouth taped shut, officials said.

The investigation included canvassing the neighborhood, interviewing neighbors and looking for surveillance cameras that may have captured the area where the puppy was found. 

“Scottsdale detectives discovered a surveillance video showing Richmond’s vehicle in the alley during the time frame the puppy was left there,” the release stated.

Officials identified him as the registered owner and a potential lead in the case.

“After identifying Richmond as a potential lead, investigators were able to obtain video surveillance of Richmond and Auditor talking about getting rid of the puppy,” according to the release.