Alleged K-9 Schultz Killer Heads to Trial

A Washington Township man will finally go to trial on charges of robbing a Blackwood Chinese restaurant and killing Gloucester Township Police Department K-9 Schultz as he was being chased along Route 42 in late November 2010.

Skyler J. Robinson's trial is scheduled to begin on Monday, Jan. 28, according to Camden County Prosecutor's Office spokesman Jason Laughlin.

Robinson, of Pitman Downer Road, Sewell, was indicted June 21, 2011, on three counts of robbery—one for each person inside East Church Street's Lucky Dragon Chinese restaurant during the Nov. 30, 2010, robbery—two counts of causing injury to a police animal and single counts of conspiracy to commit robbery, aggravated assault, and resisting arrest.

Evan J. Scotese, 21, of Sewell, currently is serving a six-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree robbery on Aug. 1, 2011, in connection with the case. 

Scotese was arrested at his home by Washington Township police early the morning after the Lucky Dragon robbery, in which authorities say roughly $300 was stolen.

Police responding to the East Church Street Chinese restaurant the night of Nov. 30, 2010, on a report of a robbery ended up pursuing the suspects to Route 42.

K-9 Schultz's handler, Cpl. Mark Pickard, released Schultz after ordering Robinson, who was 20 years old at the time, to stop and warning him he had a police dog with him, according to authorities.

K-9 Schultz caught up to Robinson, and the police dog and Washington Township man struggled. It is alleged Robinson punched Schultz in the head, forcing the K-9 to release its grip. When Schultz caught Robinson again, the former Washington Township High School football star began swinging Schultz into the path of oncoming traffic in an effort to make the K-9 release his arm.

Robinson and K-9 Schultz reportedly were struck by the same car.

The Sewell man ran from the scene. He was arrested at his home the next morning.

The 3 1/2-year-old German shepherd was struck by at least three more cars, according to authorities, and died at the scene.

More than 1,000 people attended Schultz's memorial service at Gloucester Township Community Park on a bone-chilling December day.

Robinson has been in trouble with the law since Nov. 30, 2010. He was arrested in August on drug-distribution charges.

Don't miss any Gloucester Township news—sign up for Patch's breaking news alerts.