No charges in police shooting of teen Deven Guilford





CHARLOTTE – Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd announced there will be no charges against the Eaton County Sheriff's sergeant who shot and killed Mulliken teenager Deven Guilford in February.

A news conference regarding the shooting ended shortly after 12:30 p.m. at the Eaton County Courthouse.

Lloyd reached the decision in part after reviewing body camera video shot on Feb. 28 during a traffic stop on M-43, west of Cochran Road in Roxand Township.

Guilford was shot after he and Sgt. Jonathan Frost became involved in a physical struggle, according to police. Guilford died at the scene. Frost was hospitalized for undisclosed injuries after the incident.

Police previously had not said what Frost's injuries were, and declined to say how many times Guilford was shot, or whether Guilford had a weapon.

Lloyd reviewed body camera video and cell phone video taken by Guilford during the incident. Guilford was stopped for flashing his bright lights at the officer, which is a civil infraction. He then refused to provide his driver's license, registration and insurance after repeated requests, which Lloyd said is a misdemeanor that can lead to arrest.

When Frost tried to make the arrest, Guilford resisted, which eventually led to an altercation in which Frost used his Taser. Eventually, the two struggled and Guilford ended up on top of Frost in a roadside ditch, hitting Frost. At that point, Lloyd said, Frost felt he needed to defend himself and used his service revolver to do so. He eventually fired seven shots, all of which hit Guilford.

The Guilford family, through their attorneys, declined to comment on the findings. They are expected to release a statement at a later date.

Lloyd's news conference comes about two weeks after he received the results of a state police investigation that last more than three months.