Full Notification

Hawai’i Police Department
Ka‘ū Patrol Division
Lieutenant Pernell Hanoa
Phone: (808) 939-2520
Report No. 24-077364

Media Release

On Friday, August 23, 2024, at approximately 4:59 p.m., patrol officers in the Ka‘ū District responded to a report of an unknown disturbance in the area of King Kamehameha Boulevard and Aloha Boulevard in the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates Subdivision.

Information reported to police dispatch was that a male party was in the area attempting to break up dogs that were fighting. However, another caller reported seeing a male party abusing his dogs. Upon arrival, officers discovered that a medium size black colored canine was deceased and laying in the middle of the roadway. The animal appeared to have several puncture wounds to the right side of its body. This same male party was observed by a witness to be kicking the dog minutes before the dog’s body was found.

Officers quickly located and contacted the male party approximately one block from the scene. Upon contacting him, officers observed that his hands were covered in blood and that he had a knife on his person with blood on the blade. He also acknowledged that the deceased dog left on the roadway belonged to him.

As a result of the investigation, the male party, identified as 64-year old Robert Harris of Ocean View, was arrested. He was also found to have a marijuana smoking pipe in his possession.  

Upon conferring with a Deputy Prosecutor, Harris was later charged with Animal Cruelty in the First Degree, Promotion of a Detrimental Drug in the Third Degree and Drug Paraphernalia. His bail was set at $5000.00

He is scheduled to make his first court appearance at Kona District court on Monday, August 26, 2024.

The Hawai‘i Police Department is asking that anyone who has information regarding this incident to please call Officer Taylor Au at (808) 939-2520 or the police non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.