Two people are facing charges in connection with an incident that police say led to the line-of-duty death of a Genesee County sheriff's sergeant early Sunday morning.
Sgt. Thomas Sanfratello, 54, was posted to a special assignment detail at Batavia Downs when he died during a fight with a patron, according to authorities. Batavia police say the 32-year veteran of the force was escorting a pair of patrons out of the casino after a verbal confrontation when they allegedly became combative.
Sanfratello was arresting Lyndsey Jean Wilcox, 39, of Batavia, after a struggle when investigators say he was then attacked by Michael Elmore, 33, also of Batavia. The sergeant attempted to use a Taser on Elmore, but investigators say it didn't subdue him. During the incidident, they say the sergeant became unresponsive and was pronounced dead.
Elmore is charged with first-degree aggravated manslaughter, aggravated assault on a police officer and second-degree burglary. Wilcox is charged with second-degree burglary and second-degree attempted assault. Both were held in the Genesee County Jail and were arraigned in Centralized Arraignment Part Court. They are set to appear on March 12 in Town of Batavia Court.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family members of Sgt. Sanfratello and all the members of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office at this extremely difficult time," said Batavia Police Department Chief Shawn Heubusch.
Police ask anyone who may have witnessed this or has video of the incident to contact the City of Batavia Police Department Detective Bureau at 585-345-6311 or submit a tip at bataviapolice.org.
Batavia Downs was closed for a short time after the incident, but has since reopened.