Ocean View man carrying bloody knife, his hands covered in blood upon his arrest after dog found dead on road

An Ocean View man faces animal cruelty and other charges following his arrest last week, his hands bloody and him carrying a bloody knife, after a dog was found dead in Ocean View.

Robert Harris, 64, is charged with first-degree animal cruelty, third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug and drug paraphernalia. His bail was set at $5,000.

Harris made his first court appearance today in Kona District Court and was granted supervised release. He was ordered to return at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 20 for a preliminary hearing.

The charges stem from a report the afternoon of Aug. 23 about an unknown disturbance near King Kamehameha Boulevard and Aloha Boulevard in Ocean View.

Information given to Hawaiʻi Police Department dispatch said a man was attempting to break up fighting dogs; however, another caller reported they saw a man abusing a dog.

Officers responed at about 5 p.m. to the scene and discovered a medium-size black dog dead in the middle of the road. They were able to quickly find the man reported by callers, later identified as Harris, about a block away.

“The animal appeared to have several puncture wounds to the right side of its body,” according to a police press release. “This same male party was observed by a witness to be kicking the dog minutes before the dog’s body was found.”

Harris admitted he was the owner of the dead dog and was ultimately arrested. A marijuana pipe was found in his possession.

Police noted his hands were covered in blood and that he had a knife with blood on the blade.

Anyone who has information about this incident is asked to call Officer Taylor Au at 808-939-2520 or the police non-emergency line at 808-935-3311.