A pair of thugs have been arrested for allegedly beating a New York cop to death with chains after being thrown out of a casino.
Michael J. Elmore, 33, and Lyndsey Jean Wilcox, 39, refused to leave Batavia Downs Gaming and Hotel just after midnight Sunday after being told they had to leave.
Wilcox ‘unlawfully’ stayed at the casino with the intention of ‘committing a crime’ on site, while her boyfriend left and then returned to carry out his attack.
Sergeant Thomas A. Sanfratello, 54, had been assigned to watch over the location that evening and was called to the Rush 34 bar to respond to a reported disturbance.
The officer confronted the drunken Batavia couple and attempted to escort Elmore outside, at which point Wilcox became violent with Sanfratello, punching him several times.
Michael J. Elmore, 33, and Lyndsey Jean Wilcox, 39, refused to leave Batavia Downs Gaming and Hotel just after midnight Sunday after being told they had to leave
Sergeant Thomas A. Sanfratello, 54, a decorated officer of 32 years, died shortly after being attacked by the couple
Witnesses claimed Elmore then left and then returned to the casino with metal chains to threaten the sergeant.
He allegedly “passed (the chains) between both hands while swinging them around and making threats” before swinging the chains at the police officer’s head and face.
The thug put the sergeant in a chokehold and hit him with his fists, the local newspaper said The Batavian.
Sanfratello became unresponsive during the altercation and attempts to revive him by performing CPR were unsuccessful, according to Batavia police.
Despite attempting to deploy his Taser, Sanfratello suffered serious injuries in the struggle and died in the early hours of Sunday.
Police said Sanfratello’s cause of death had not yet been determined.
Sanfratello was a decorated sergeant who had won multiple awards during his 32 years of service, including the President’s Award.
The father of three was described as a Yankees fan and a car enthusiast. He had “an overwhelming collection” of Legos and Hot Wheels and attended model car conventions and Motorama racing events in the US.
He was also a certified paramedic and an active member of the Alexander Fire Department from 1986 to 2003.
“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.”
Elmore has since been charged with two Class B felonies: aggravated manslaughter and aggravated assault on a police officer. He was also charged with second-degree burglary.
The officer had confronted the drunken Batavia couple and attempted to escort Elmore out of the Batavia Downs casino, at which point Wilcox became violent with Sanfratello, hitting him several times.
Wilcox has been charged with second-degree burglary and attempted assault.
Arrest records indicate the couple was likely under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.
Both were held in the Genesee County Jail and were arraigned by Judge Mileham in Centralized Arraignment Part (CAP) Court, according to a arrest report.
Elmore was held on $100,000 cash bail, $200,000 surety or $500,000 partially secured bond.
Wilcox was held on $50,000 cash bail, $100,000 surety or $200,000 partially secured bond. Both will appear in the Batavia court on March 12.
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.
The pair will appear in court today.
