HPD Investigates Officer-Involved Shooting

Hawaiʻi Island police are investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred at about 12:45 p.m., Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 15, 2017, in the area of Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway and Palani Road in Kailua-Kona.

At approximately 12:19 p.m., police responded to the report of a barking dog. Upon arrival, an officer located a female dog with puppies that appeared injured. The officer requested assistance from the Hawaiʻi Island Humane Society.

While waiting for the arrival of additional officers and the humane society personnel, a 49-year-old man identified as William Cook removed the female dog before it received aid.

The officer attempted to contact Cook as he left the area.

Secondary personnel arrived, including humane society personnel, and attempted to recover the puppies in distress.

While rescuing the puppies, the female dog returned and attacked the humane society personnel. The officer in the area first utilized his issued pepper spray in an unsuccessful attempt to fend off the attack. The dog then turned to the officer and began to charge, at which time the officer discharged one round from his service firearm in the direction of the dog.

The dog’s reported owner, Cook, was arrested at the scene and later charged for “Dangerous Dog, Failure to Control Widely Dangerous Means, Disorderly Conduct and Cruelty to Animals.”

No one was injured or property damaged as a result of the firearm discharge. The humane society personnel sustained dog bite injuries which we treated at the scene.

The dog and puppies are currently in the custody of the Hawaiʻi Island Humane Society.

As is standard practice in any police-involved shooting, the police department’s Area II Criminal Investigations Section will investigate the shooting, and the Office of Professional Standards will conduct an administrative investigation.

Police ask anyone who witnessed the incident to contact the Police Department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.

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