BATAVIA, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Genesee County Sheriff's Office announced the line-of-duty death of Sergeant Thomas A. Sanfratello.
The sheriff's office said Sgt. Sanfratello was killed on March 10 after an incident while working a special assignment detail at Batavia Downs.
According to the Batavia Police Department, Sgt. Sanfratello and casino security were notified of a verbal altercation between two people at the bar around 12:45 a.m. Sunday. Sgt. Sanfratello and security began escorting two people out, 33-year-old Michael J. Elmore and 39-year-old Lyndsey Jean Wilcox.
Wilcox was placed under arrest after allegedly becoming physically combative. Elmore allegedly interfered with the arrest and attacked Sgt. Sanfratello. According to police, security and civilians attempted to assist Sgt. Sanfratello and a physical fight took place between them.
Police said during the altercation, Sgt. Sanfratello attempted to use his Taser on Elmore but he continued to be combative. The sergeant then became unresponsive and CPR was started immediately. Sgt. Sanfratello was pronounced dead by the Genesee County Coroner.
Sgt. Sanfratello has worked for the Genesee County Sheriff's Office for the past 32 years. He started in 1992 as a dispatcher, was appointed a deputy sheriff in 1996, and was promoted to sergeant in 2007.
Sgt. Sanfratello's son, Ian, reached out to 7 News and provided the following statement and image.
Elmore and Wilcox have both been arrested.
Elmore was charged with first-degree aggravated manslaughter, aggravated assault upon a police officer, and second-degree burglary.
Wilcox was charged with second-degree burglary and second-degree attempted assault.
Police said it is alleged that Elmore attempted to cause serious physical injury to Sgt. Sanfratello and Sanfratello died as a result of the encounter.
Elmore allegedly left and then returned to Batavia Downs after being told to leave. Wilcox allegedly remained unlawfully at Batavia Downs after being told to leave.
Police said they were both held at the Genesee County Jail and were arraigned in Centralized Arraignment Part (CAP) Court. Elmore was held on $100,000 cash bail, $200,000 bond or $500,000 partially secured bond. Wilcox was held on $50,000 cash bail, $100,000 security bond or $200,000 partially secured bond. Both are set to appear in the Town of Batavia Court on March 12 at 3 p.m.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family members of Sergeant Sanfratello and all the members of the Genesee County Sheriff's Office at this extremely difficult time," said Batavia Police Department Chief Shawn Heubusch.
Patrons of Batavia Downs, like John DellaPenna were saddened to learn about what happened Sunday morning.
"You have sympathy for the family," DellaPenna said. "It's just tragic that we had something like this happen here."
Suzanne Vanhove was also saddened and said she was praying for the family.
"It's very sad it's like why do people keep on doing this stuff," Vanhove said.
This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information or video is asked to call the City of Batavia Police Department at (585) 345-6311 or submit a tip to www.bataviapolice.org.
