Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 42-year-old Christopher Monaco of Town of Hamburg has been arraigned before Hamburg Town Justice Gerald P. Gorman on one count of Obstructing Governmental Administration in the Second Degree, a Class “A” misdemeanor. The defendant was arraigned on Wednesday, May 15, 2019.

It is alleged that on Saturday, May 11, 2019, at approximately 11:30 p.m., Town of Hamburg Police responded to a domestic disturbance at the defendant’s home on Bender Court after receiving a 911 hang up call. Upon their arrival, the defendant, who is a captain with the Town of Hamburg Police Department, allegedly attempted to prevent the officers from conducting their investigation by ordering the victim, his wife, to not provide a statement.

Monaco is scheduled to return on Thursday, June 13, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. for further proceedings. He was released on his own recognizance. The judge did not issue an order of protection on behalf of the victim.

If convicted on the charge, he faces a maximum possible sentence of 1 year in jail.

The case is being prosecuted by Holly P. Tucker, Chief of the DA’s Domestic Violence Bureau.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.