A Northeast District police officer has been charged with three counts of menacing in connection with an incident early Feb. 16 outside the Town Ballroom in the 600 block of Main Street, The Buffalo News has learned.
Officer Mitchell J. Thomas, 38, of Montcalm Street, is accused of pointing and waving a gun, Buffalo police reports said.
Thomas, suspended from duty without pay last Friday, was booked on the three charges Wednesday morning after an investigation by the department's Professional Standards Division. He is a 10-year veteran of the force.
According to the complaints filed by the club's manager of security and two security guards, Thomas was off duty and asked to bring his gun into the club.
"In accordance with our policy, I told Mr. Thomas that he could not bring his weapon into the club," according to a statement to police by security guard Arthur Mangone. "[Security guard Nathan] Duerr and I explained the policy to Mr. Thomas that no patrons, not even police officers, were allowed to bring a gun into the club."
Reports stated Thomas then asked to speak with the manager of security, Stanley Susz.
Susz stated: "Mr. Thomas insisted on being allowed to bring his gun into the club and stated that he had previously done so. I explained that there was a new owner in the past couple of years and that, per policy, no person was allowed to bring a gun into the club."
Susz alleged that Thomas became "belligerent," saying: "Who you gonna call? You gonna call me. I'm gonna come here, I'm gonna show up, I'm gonna come up here with some guys, and we're gonna check everything and shut this place down."
Then, a male and female companion with Thomas, along with two security guards, tried to escort Thomas away, according to the police reports.
At that time, it's alleged that Thomas continued to carry on.
He, according to Susz's complaint, then "pulled out a handgun, pointed and waved the gun at [Susz, Mangone and Duerr] and yelled."
After several more security personnel intervened, Thomas was moved away from the club entrance, the reports stated.
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