New York Casino Altercation Leads To Veteran Police Officer’s Death

Article by : Erik Gibbs Mar 13, 2024

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A seasoned sergeant with decades of experience in law enforcement tragically passed away unexpectedly following an altercation with two suspects outside an upstate New York casino.

The incident unfolded on Sunday shortly after midnight at the Batavia Downs racetrack and casino complex in Batavia, New York, situated between Buffalo and Rochester.

Sgt. Thomas Sanfratello, a committed veteran with 32 years of service at the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, was fulfilling a unique assignment at the complex that evening. As a disturbance unfolded in the bar area, he promptly collaborated with security guards to manage the unruly patrons.

The two suspects, Michael Elmore, 33, and Lyndsey Jean Wilcox, 39, both residents of Batavia, engaged in a verbal dispute and were instructed to leave the premises.

Despite the request, they refused. Sanfratello, along with the security team, intervened and successfully moved the suspects outdoors. After stepping outside, Wilcox reportedly initiated an attack on Sanfratello, and despite efforts from him and the security personnel, she was eventually subdued and arrested.

Tragically, the arrest appeared to enrage Elmore, who allegedly began assaulting Sanfratello as well.

The sergeant, in an attempt to control the situation, reportedly deployed a taser against Elmore, but the suspect continued his assault. In the course of the altercation, Sanfratello collapsed.

Despite immediate CPR efforts by those present, he could not be revived and was pronounced dead at the scene at the age of 54.

Elmore now faces charges of first-degree aggravated manslaughter, aggravated assault upon a police officer and burglary. Wilcox has been charged with burglary and attempted assault.

Both have had bonds set, but their payment status remains unclear.

Although the cause of Sanfratello’s death is yet to be disclosed, the Batavia Police Department claimed that Elmore intended to cause serious physical harm to the sergeant, resulting in his death during the encounter.

An ongoing investigation is diligently examining the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.

A Facebook statement from the sheriff’s office conveyed the profound loss felt by Sgt. Sanfratello’s passing, with wishes for him to rest in peace. Sanfratello began his career as a dispatcher at the sheriff’s office in the early 1990s. He rose to deputy in 1996 and eventually became sergeant in 2007.

Following the incident, the casino complex was promptly evacuated and temporarily closed, later reopening.

Henry Wojtaszek, president and CEO of Batavia Downs, offered condolences to Sanfratello’s family. He acknowledged that such incidents are infrequent at the casino, thanks in large part to the remarkable efforts of individuals like Sgt. Sanfratello. He pledged full cooperation with the ongoing investigation.