Photos of injured sergeant involved in fatal shooting released

CHARLOTTE – The Eaton County Prosecutor's Office has released photos it says show the injuries a Sheriff's Department sergeant suffered during a fatal altercation with an unarmed teen earlier this year.

The release of the photos comes one day after Prosecuting Attorney Doug Lloyd released a 19-page press release and some video evidence during a press conference to announce there would be no charges filed against Sgt. Jonathan Frost.

Backlash from his decision on social media, Lloyd said Wednesday evening, prompted him to release the images of Frost.

Lloyd said there was discussion within his office in the days leading up to the press conference about releasing the Frost photos with the rest of the materials, but he opted not to. The social media response prompted him to change his mind.

The public's reaction to his decision, at least the opinions sent directly to him, have been negative, he said.

"The emails have been critical of me, is a kind way to put it," Lloyd said.

Frost, an eight-year veteran, pulled Deven Guilford over Feb. 28 after he said the teen flashed his bright lights because he thought Frost's were on, police said. Guilford repeatedly refused to give Frost his driver's license and other documents, and eventually resisted arrest. Frost initially used his stun gun on Guilford while the teen was lying on his stomach next to his vehicle but would not put his hands behind his back as Frost was attempting to handcuff him. The teen got off the ground, when police said Guilford was able to get on top of Frost in a snow-filled ditch and was hitting him in the face.

Lloyd said Tuesday Frost could feel blood in his mouth and felt he was about to lose consciousness before he removed his gun from the holster. Lloyd said Frost's gun did not fire at first, but he ejected an unfired round, chambered a new round and fired seven shots at close range in four seconds, all of which struck Guilford. He died at the scene. There is no video of the confrontation soon after Guilford was stunned and stood up.

Toxicology results showed that THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, was in Guilford's system at the time of the stop. The level of the substance "suggests that Deven used marijuana within three to four hours or sooner," of the traffic stop, according to a press release issued by Lloyd's office.

Frost was taken to the hospital the night of the incident and released the next morning. He suffered injuries to the face and head. Lloyd said there was initial concern Frost had a fractured jaw or orbital bone, but X-rays were negative.

Lloyd's office received the Michigan State Police investigation on May 27, he said on Tuesday, and spent about three weeks reviewing 29 law enforcement reports, hours of video and audio, an autopsy report, a toxicology report, Frost's medical and personnel file and dispatch records, among other pieces of evidence.

Lloyd said Wednesday he doesn't anticipate releasing any additional information or evidence without a Freedom of Information Act request.

Contact Matt Mencarini at 517-267-1347 or mmencarini@lsj.com.