SUGARCREEK TWP., Greene County — John Stafford has pleaded not guilty to aggravated menacing after he was accused of pulling a gun out and pointing it at golfers playing at Sugar Valley Country Club Monday, police and court records show.
Stafford, 63, was arrested at his home around 4:30 p.m. after the incident was reported by multiple callers to police.
>> Police seek charge against prominent businessman John Stafford following golf course altercation
“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.”
New video obtained by News Center 7 through a public records request showed a portion of the argument that happened on the fairway of the golf club. It does not actually show Stafford pulling out a gun.
“This is my yard (expletive),” Stafford told a group of golfers in the cell phone video.
“You pulled a gun. You pulled a gun,” one of the golfers said to Stafford.
“Yeah because he came at me. You’re in my yard. Once you stepped in my yard you had a problem,” Stafford is heard saying in the video.
Police body camera video shows accounts from several people, on both sides, who are involved in the investigation.
“Once he gets on my property and I feel threatened, that he’s got the golf club in his hand, he’s probably going to hit me, or hit the dog, I pulled out my weapon and said you guys get off my property, you’re not supposed to have golf carts on here,” Stafford told two Sugarcreek Twp. officers. “Now I didn’t say I was going to shoot anybody, I didn’t say I was going to do anything.”
News Center 7 has made multiple attempts to reach Stafford for comment, but he has not responded.
A Sugarcreek Twp. police report shows police seized a gun during their investigation.
Stafford told police the golfers were being loud and were driving a golf cart on his land, against club rules.
Greene County records News Center 7 obtained Tuesday, following a records request, shows the golf course does cut across a section of Stafford’s land, but golfers are allowed to play there.
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 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 told police he felt threatened during the incident.
“Per Ohio law – I have a right to stand there and I don’t have to give up my position on my property,” Stafford said.
“If you feel like your life was in danger,” the officer responded.
“Well he came at me with a golf club. And he’s telling me he’s gonna kick my (expletive). He knows who I am...he’s coming after me. So, what would you do…he’s within six feet of me,” Stafford said.
The golfers told police what they said happened that prompted the calls for police to respond.
“He kept antagonizing us antagonizing us and bringing his dog – he goes I’ll just shoot everybody and like we’re standing there – you know – confrontation and he pulls a gun – it’s him there me here him there and he goes like this right here, two foot from our face, he goes, I’ll shoot all of you…just like that I said I’m calling the cops,” one of the golfers said.
During the investigation an officer said “we’re going to have to arrest him.” Within a few minutes, officers return to Stafford’s home and put him in handcuffs, the body camera video shows.
News Center 7 cameras were at the police station when officers led Stafford inside.
If convicted, Stafford could face up to six months in jail.
Stafford is no longer in custody.