Police have charged a man and a woman, both probationers, for allegedly stealing dogs from the Hawaii Island Humane Society’s Keaau shelter.
Police say 36-year-old Gustavus Morante of Kurtistown and 30-year-old Minnieann Silva of Hilo were charged Friday with fourth-degree theft for the alleged break-in at the Keaau facility’s after-hour kennels.
Silva was also charged with two counts of promoting a dangerous drug, plus single counts of promoting a harmful drug, marijuana possession and drug paraphernalia. Court records indicate she was sentenced to four years probation in July for promoting a dangerous drug.
Morante was also charged with violating his four-year probation sentence handed down in November 2016 for felony theft, assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest.
In addition, Morante was arrested on suspicion of two counts of promoting a dangerous drug and single counts of promoting a harmful drug, marijuana possession and drug paraphernalia.
The Hawaii Island Humane Society posted numerous black-and-white surveillance photos on Facebook Wednesday, showing a white sport-utility vehicle with a woman in the driver’s seat and a man in a hooded sweatshirt using a pair of bolt cutters to gain entrance to the kennel.
The photos show the man taking what appears to be a pit bull from a kennel and leading the dog to the SUV.
The humane society’s post said it’s the second time the same SUV came to the shelter and took at least one animal.
The dogs have owners, the humane society said. One has been recovered, according to an update on Facebook.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.