Deputy dies during altercation in upstate New York casino, man charged in death

BATAVIA, NY — A veteran sheriff’s sergeant died after being attacked at a western New York casino, and a patron has been charged with manslaughter, police said Monday.

Genesee County Sheriff’s Sgt. Thomas Sanfratello, 54, died early Sunday morning after trying to escort a man and a woman from the bar area of ​​Batavia Downs, about 35 miles east of Buffalo.

Sanfratello became unresponsive during an altercation with the man and attempts to revive him through CPR were unsuccessful, according to Batavia police.

Police said Sanfratello’s cause of death had not yet been determined.

Michael Elmore and Lyndsey Jean Wilcox were escorted out of the casino after Sanfratello and security officers were notified of an altercation there. Wilcox became combative with Sanfratello, who arrested her with the help of security personnel. Elmore began to interfere with the arrest and attacked Sanfratello. Police said the officer became unresponsive during the altercation.

Elmore, 33, was charged with first-degree manslaughter, aggravated assault on a police officer and second-degree burglary. Wilcox, 39, was charged with second-degree burglary and attempted assault.

The pair, both from Batavia, were arraigned and sent to prison.

Elmore’s attorney, Joseph Lobosco, said in an email that he was just beginning to represent his client and had no comment at this time. Wilcox’s attorney could not be reached.

Sanfratello, a 32-year veteran of the force, was working on special assignment at Batavia Downs. He had been a sergeant since 2007, according to the sheriff’s office.

“Words cannot describe the loss our agency feels with the passing of Sergeant Sanfratello,” the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post. “May he rest in peace.”