Media

Deputies Shoot Man and Dogs During Search Warrant Near East Memphis

Release Date: June 15, 2006

A man and three dogs were shot just after 11:30 this morning by Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies conducting a search warrant at a home in the 100 block of South Marne, near Poplar at Holmes. 

Investigators say Robert Thomas Schutt, 39, who lives at the house with another man, commanded three rottweiler dogs to attack the Deputies as they entered his home.  The officers were there looking for thousands of dollars worth of stolen paintings and illegal drugs.

Deputies from the Sheriff’s ALERT Squad (Area Law Enforcement Retailers Team) which specializes in fraud and theft cases had gone to the house with Deputies from the Sheriff’s Narcotics Bureau.

Sheriff’s Investigators believed three stolen oil paintings worth thousands of dollars, were inside the house. 

The paintings had been taken last month from a downtown condominium on G.E. Patterson Boulevard featured in the Vesta Home Show.     

After Deputies identified themselves and repeatedly knocked on the front door of the house, they forced their way inside.

When they got inside, Officers say Schutt, who was alone in the house, commanded the three dogs to attack the deputies.

Two of the deputies shot the dogs.  Two of the rottweilers died at the house.  The other dog was taken to an animal hospital for treatment.

Schutt was shot in the hand and side.  He was taken to the Regional Medical Center for treatment.  He remains in stable condition.

After searching the house, investigators found what they were looking for.  Besides the three oil paintings taken from the Vesta Home Show, Deputies found some crystal methamphetamine.

Tonight Robert Schutt faces seven counts of Aggravated Assault and more charges are expected.