Police seek charge against prominent businessman John Stafford following golf course altercation

SUGARCREEK TWP., Greene County — Sugarcreek Twp. police said they plan to present a charge of aggravated menacing to prosecutors after officers arrested John Stafford following an altercation at Sugar Valley Country Club.

Stafford, 63, was taken into custody by Sugarcreek Twp. Police at his home , according to police and property records.

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Officers responded to the course around 4:30 p.m. Monday.

“We’re taking a weapons complaint from Sugar Valley Country Club,” a police dispatcher told officers who were sent to the course.

Multiple calls to police were obtained by News Center 7 through a public records request.

“A guy pulled a gun on us, brought his dog over,” a golfer said when he called 911. “He said he won’t back down. He keeps threatening us.”

Police have not said whether that was what they discovered when they arrived at the course to begin their investigation. News Center 7 requested a copy of the police report from the altercation; however, the report was incomplete and hadn’t been turned in yet by officers, Sugarcreek Twp. Police Chief Michael Brown said.

A News Center 7 camera captured video of Stafford in handcuffs being taken into the Sugarcreek Twp. Police Department. Multiple attempts to reach Stafford for comment have not been returned.

A neighbor also reported seeing the altercation and reported a gun being involved, according to records.

“They’re out in the middle of the fairway. About eight people including John Stafford,” the neighbor told police dispatchers.

“He says we’re on his property. We’re not,” a 911 caller said. “He’s saying he owns the golf course.”

An easement signed in July 1991 between Greene Tree Development Inc. and Sugar Valley Country Club involves a portion of Stafford’s property. The easement for the plot of land was in place prior to a home being built on it and transferred to future owners, records show.

The easement said that Sugar Valley could use a portion of the property exclusively for part of its’ golf course, but that the property owner could use it for a subsurface sanitary disposal area.

Stafford was not in custody Tuesday afternoon and no formal charges have been filed in online court records.

Stafford is the owner of Stafford Jewelers in Miami Twp.

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