BATAVIA, N.Y. — The man accused in connection with the death of Genesee County Sheriff's Office Sergeant Thomas Sanfratello appeared in court Tuesday.
Michael J. Elmore, 33, stands accused on charges of manslaughter and assault on a police officer.
The courtroom was packed with officers from Batavia, State Police. the Sheriff's Office and County Probation. 2 On Your Side's Ron Plants was in the court and said the scene was very emotional when the Sergeant's family saw Elmore in the courtroom. He was wearing shackles and a green prison jumpsuit from the Monroe County Jail in Rochester.
Police said Elmore and his partner Lyndsey Jean Wilcox had been involved in a struggle with the sergeant and casino security staffers as they were being escorted out of the casino complex following a confrontation.
It was stated by police that the sergeant was trying to use a taser on the suspect during the encounter.
According to Batavia Police detectives in charging documents to the court, Elmore allegedly left the casino and went and got a "thick piece of metal jewelry or a necklace" which he brought back into the casino. He is accused of threatening the sergeant with the necklace, then repeatedly using it to strike the sergeant on the head and face with it. Elmore is back in court for a hearing on April 9 at 1 p.m. There is a possibility the case may go to Grand Jury and there could be further charges.
The other person involved in the case is Lindsey Jean Wilcox, 39. Police say she was with Elmore at the time of the incident. She is charged with assault and burglary. She was also in court and is still being held on bail.
Jean Cook, who is the mother of Wilcox, told reporters that while her family realizes the tragedy of what happened with the fallen deputy, they also feel it is not in Wilcoz's character to do what she is accused of. They also claim she has been unfairly convicted and labeled as a "cop killer" in the collective mind of the community. They also say Wilcox's daughter and other family members have been threatened by some in the community.
The Genesee County Sheriff's Office and Batavia Police Department are scheduled to hold a joint press conference on Wednesday.
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