Big Island police arrested a 30-year-old Pāhoa man for second-degree animal cruelty after receiving multiple tips regarding a social media video depicting a man beating a dog. On March 20, police initiated a cruelty to animals investigation and identified the suspect as 30-year-old Bronson Valencia-Yasue of Pāhoa. Although officers conducted multiple area checks for Valencia-Yasue and the dog, they unable to locate either of them. The Animal Control and Protection Agency was also contacted and notified of the incident. Yesterday morning, Valencia-Yasue turned himself in to police in Hilo where he was arrested and charged for second-degree animal cruelty. Due to certain information being unknown at the time, the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office was unable to file formal charges in court and Valencia-Yasue was subsequently released from police custody. The whereabouts of the dog are still unknown. Because the investigation is still ongoing, police ask anyone with information relative to the case to contact Officer Boyd Bangloy of Puna Patrol at (808) 965-2716 or via email at boyd.bangloy@hawaiicounty.gov. Upon completion, the investigation will be forwarded to Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for further review.
HPD Photo