Longtime NY sheriff’s deputy dies during brawl with casino customer

A longtime veteran of an upstate sheriff’s office died while on special assignment at a local casino when an unruly patron attacked him early Sunday.

Genesee County Sheriff’s Sgt. Thomas Sanfratello was responding to the scene of a fight inside Batavia Downs, a casino and hotel about 35 miles west of Rochester, when he succumbed, officials said.

Sanfratello, a 32-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, was working a special assignment detail at Batavia Downs when the fight broke out about 12:45 a.m., WHEC reported.

Security staff at the casino and Sanfratello were escorting Michael Elmore, 33, and Lyndsey Jean Wilcox, 39, from the building when Wilcox became combative, authorities said.

Police said Sanfratello was able to gain control and arrest her, but then Elmore attacked him and other police officers at the scene.

Sanfratello became unresponsive during the brawl, and officers administered CPR, but he died at the scene.

“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,” Batavia Police Department Chief Shawn Heubusch said in a statement.

The casino was evacuated and closed after the incident but has since reopened, WIVB reported.

Sanfratello began his career as a dispatcher with the sheriff’s office in 1992 before becoming a deputy sheriff in 1996 and a sergeant in 2007.

The Batavia Police Department is coordinating with the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, Genesee County District Attorney’s Office and Batavia Downs for the investigation into his death, officials said.

Police ask anyone who witnessed the fight or have video of it to contact the City of Batavia Police Department Detective Bureau at 585-345-6311.