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-sized 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 man was observed by a witness to be kicking the dog minutes before the dog’s body was found.
Officers quickly located and contacted the man 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 man, 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 the County Prosecutor’s Office, Harris was later charged with:
- First-degree animal cruelty
- Third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug
- Drug paraphernalia
His bail was set at $5,000.
Harris is scheduled to make his first court appearance at Kona District court on Monday, August 26.
Police ask 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.