GENESEE COUNTY/Stafford man charged with making a terroristic threat and other felony charges in standoff

A Stafford man has been charged after a standoff on Main road in the Town of Stafford on December 26, 2021.

The Genesee County Dispatch Center received a 911 call for a report of a detached garage on fire in the Town of Stafford on Main Road, between Roanoke and Transit Road.

Sheriff deputies responded after the Stafford Fire Department encountered an uncooperative male on scene at the fire.

When deputies arrived, they attempted to make contact with the male who was now barricaded in the detached garage.

The male alleged that the garage was equipped with explosives and that they would detonate if approached.

Additional deputies, NYS Police, and DEC officers responded to the scene.

Rt. 5/Main Road, was closed to pedestrian traffic and neighbors in the area were evacuated.

The City of Batavia Emergency Response Team which includes members of the Sheriff’s Office and City of Batavia Police Department, responded along with a negotiating team from both agencies.

Negotiations were stalled due to the male subject not responding to negotiators. The male then allegedly drove a motor vehicle backwards through a closed garage door, breaking the door and damaging the vehicle. The motor vehicle then continued rearward down the driveway, striking a fence and a marked law enforcement vehicle. The subject was then taken into custody without further incident.

The investigation alleges that prior to law enforcement’s arrival, the male subject attempted to burn the detached garage and did intentionally burn the facial area of a resident on scene resulting in physical injury. It is further alleged that the male subject possessed a metal knuckle knife.

An investigation of the detached garage found evidence that actions were taken by the male subject to support his alleged statement that the garage was equipped to explode.

The male subject in the incident, Christopher C. Say, no age provided, of Stafford is charged with making a terroristic threat, criminal possession of a weapon 3rd degree, criminal mischief 2nd, assault 2nd, attempted arson 3rd, all class D felonies, and criminal mischief 3rd, a class E felony.

He was arraigned in the Town of Stafford Court on December 29, 2021.

Say was remanded to the Genesee County Jail in lieu of $20,000 cash bail, $40,000 bond and $80,000 partially secured bond.