KAILUA-KONA — A Hawaii Police officer shot at a dog near one of the homeless camps in Kailua-Kona Wednesday afternoon.
The incident started when a worker for the Hawaii Island Humane Society responded to a barking dog complaint in the area off Queen Kaahumanu Highway near the Palani Road intersection on the makai side of the street.
The area is an undeveloped plot of land overgrown with shrubbery in parts.
Hawaii Police Sgt. Ed Buyten said a dog attacked the worker. Medics and police were called to the scene. The dog also came after an officer.
Buyten said one of the officers fired one round at the dog but couldn’t specify whether the shot struck the dog.
Medics treated the humane society worker for multiple dog bites. She was released at the scene. The humane society took the dog, as well as an unknown number of puppies into their care.
Buyten said the dog was alive when it was turned over to the humane society. The humane society declined comment, referring all questions to police.
Police arrested a man at the scene on the charge of having a dangerous dog. His name was not available Wednesday.
As it is policy, Buyten said, the shooting will be investigated by the department’s Criminal Investigative Section and/or Office of Professional Standards.
Donna Whitaker, executive director of the Hawaii Island Humane Society confirmed that the employee is fine.
“As this is an ongoing investigation, HIHS will comment when concluded,” Whitaker said.