A Sewell man charged in the death of a beloved police dog got a break Thursday when a judge agreed to consider drug rehabilitation before prison.
A scuffle in 2010 between Skyler Robinson, 22, a former Washington Township football star, and Gloucester Township police ended in with the dog, Schultz, being killed in traffic on Route 42.
A tearful ceremony for the dog several days later attracted more than 1,000, including officers and their dogs who lined up for the farewell.
Attorneys had been preparing for trial next week when Superior Court Judge Thomas Brown agreed that Robinson, who has a history of drug use, now qualified for a diversion program.
Effective Saturday, those accused of a second-degree crime with no previous history of violent offenses became eligible. Last week, Robinson's defense attorney, Saul Steinberg, submitted an application.
On Monday, Robinson must return to court for an evaluation to assess whether treatment is appropriate. If he is turned down or is not successful with treatment, Robinson would still face trial. He was indicted in June 2011 on charges including robbery, conspiracy, aggravated assault, resisting arrest, and injury to a law enforcement animal.
On Nov. 30, 2010, two men took $300 from the Lucky Dragon restaurant in the 400 block of East Church Street in Gloucester Township. Schultz, a three-year-old German shepherd, and Cpl. Mark Pickard found Robinson and an accomplice hiding in bushes a half-mile from the restaurant, authorities said.
As Robinson fled, Pickard released Schultz. Witnesses said they saw Robinson break free as the dog bit his arm. There are differing accounts of whether Robinson flung Schultz into traffic or whether the dog was hit while chasing Robinson on Route 42, Steinberg said.
Both were hit by a car. Robinson kept running as the dog was struck by several other vehicles and died at the scene.
In court Thursday, Brown reviewed Robinson's hospital records from that night. Blood tests showed that Robinson was under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, PCP, and prescription drugs that were not prescribed to him.
He also was arrested at his Washington Township home on drug charges Aug. 8. Charges included drug possession, specifically of oxycodone, and distribution to an undercover officer. Those charges are pending in Gloucester County.
Had Robinson gone to trial last year, he would not have been eligible for drug court.
Schultz was well-known in the community, where his name was chosen in an elementary school writing contest. He was named after former Flyers forward Dave "the Hammer" Schultz.
His death made national news. In May 2011, the Legislature passed "Schultz's Law," which increased the punishment for killing a police dog to a mandatory five-year prison term without chance of parole from a three- to five-year term.
Robinson's accomplice was sentenced in 2011 to six years on robbery charges.
Copyright 2013 - The Philadelphia Inquirer
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