Barking dog leads to stolen car arrest

Police officers investigating a report of a barking dog left in a vehicle arrested a man after it was determined that the vehicle had been stolen.

Peter Feliciano III, 45, who gave no local address, was arrested at 6:40 a.m. Tuesday. He was charged with unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, first-degree theft and habitual property crime. His bail was set at $50,000.

Kihei patrol officers were called to the south parking lot at Keawakapu Beach at 5:15 a.m. Tuesday to investigate the report that the dog had been left in the vehicle. As Feliciano was seen walking to the parking lot from the beach, the dog began barking and howling, according to a declaration filed in court to support the charges.

Feliciano turned around and walked back to the beach before officers made contact with him and a woman at the beach access, according to the declaration.

Feliciano was seen throwing something into vegetation along the beach access as he was being detained by a police officer, police said. Police recovered the item, which was the key for the stolen vehicle.

The 2015 black Ford Edge multipurpose vehicle had been reported stolen at 1:24 p.m. Sunday from Budget Rent A Car in Kahului, according to police.

Feliciano was charged with habitual property crime based on his two felony property crime convictions within the last 10 years, police said.

The 30-year-old Makawao woman with Feliciano was arrested and released pending further investigation. She reportedly told police that the dog was hers and that Feliciano had been driving the vehicle.