Guilty Plea Entered in Robbery That Led to K-9 Schultz Death

A Washington Township man accused of robbing a Chinese restaurant last November, leading to the police pursuit that resulted in the death of Gloucester Township Police K-9 Schultz, pleaded guilty today, according to Camden County Prosecutor Warren W. Faulk.

Evan Scotese, 20, faces a six-year prison term after he pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery before Superior Court Judge Irvin Snyder, Faulk said.

Scotese admitted to robbing Lucky Dragon Chinese restaurant, located on the 400 block of East Church Street in the township's Blackwood section, around 7 p.m. on Nov. 30, 2010.

Scotese punched a man working at the restaurant in the face during the robbery. He and co-defendant Skyler J. Robinson, 21, fled the restaurant with cash, according to authorities.

Robinson, a former standout football player at Washington Township High School, is charged with killing Schultz by throwing the dog into an oncoming car on Route 42.

Robinson, who, like Scotese, is a resident of the Sewell section of Washington Township, is still facing charges of robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, aggravated assault and two counts of injury to a law enforcement animal.

A Camden County grand jury indicted both men in connection with the restaurant robbery on June 21.

It is alleged Robinson punched K-9 Schultz in the head after the dog's handler, Cpl. Mark Pickard, released the dog on the suspect. The blow to the head forced the K-9 to release the robbery suspect.

When Schultz caught Robinson again, Robinson began swinging the dog into the path of oncoming traffic in an effort to make the K-9 release his arm, according to authorities. Robinson spun into oncoming traffic and both the defendant and Schultz were hit by a passing car. Robinson ran away, but Schultz was hit by at least three more vehicles and was found lying in a grass median. The dog died at the scene.

Scotese, who was not charged in connection with Schultz's death, is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 9.