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 Fatal Traffic Stop Over Headlights, Dad Says GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (CN) - A police officer who pulled a teenager over for using his high beams ended the illegal stop by shooting the boy to death, the teen's father claims in a federal complaint. 
 
 It's been eight months since 17-year-old Deven Guilford flashed his high beams at Eaton County Sgt. Jonathon Frost, believing the officer had his bright lights on and was blinding oncoming traffic, according to the Oct. 14 complaint. 
 
 Frost's body camera captured most of the Feb. 28 encounter, and Guilford also recorded much of the stop on his cellphone before Frost is seen forcing the phone from the teen's hand. The videos have been posted online. 
 
 Guilford was one of three drivers the sheriff's officer stopped that day for signaling him in this way, the complaint states, despite no law against doing so. 
 
 Though Frost maintains on the video that he did not have his bright lights on, the teen argued otherwise and said the lights could have caused an accident. 
 
 Frost requested Guilford's driver's license and registration, which Guilford did not provide, at first stating he was on his way to get it. Guilford requested Frost's badge number, which the officer did not provide. 
 
 "Without waiting for backup and without giving Guilford any prior command to exit the car Frost opened the driver's side door and grabbed Guilford and started pulling him out," the complaint states. "Frost then drew his taser, pointed at Guilford and told him to exit the vehicle. Guilford complied." 
 
 Frost can be heard on the video ordering Guilford to lie face-down on the road, while pointing what the complaint calls a Taser at him. 
 
 Guilford complies with the direction after asking for clarification, then repeatedly asks what Frost is doing as he is ordered to put his hands behind his back. 
 
 "According to Frost, Guilford looked back at him, which Frost claimed he had been trained to interpret as an indication that the arrestee was going to get up and attack the officer," the complaint states. 
 
 Guilford is heard crying out as it appears Frost then uses his Taser on him in the video. There is an apparent scuffle, during which the screen is mostly dark. 
 
 Then, seven popping sounds are heard, accompanied by what sounds like a loud scream. 
 
 The complaint says backup vehicles arrived within a minute of Frost fatally shooting Guilford. 
 
 Frost, who claims that the teen was on top of him and striking him when he fired, was placed on paid administrative leave but never charged with a crime. 
 
 The Eaton County Prosecutor's Office followed up that announcement with photos it says were taken after the traffic stop. Frost's face has streaks of blood and an apparent laceration on the forehead. 
 
 A news release from the Eaton County prosecutor's office says Guilford attacked the officer after he was shot with the stun gun. 
 
 "Sgt. Frost reported that Deven had quickly jumped from the ground and knocked him backwards after the Taser deployment," according to the news release. "Deven was swinging his fists. Sgt. Frost backpedaled from Deven and reached for his sidearm. Deven hit him in the head several times with his right fist. Sgt. Frost fell to the ground and Deven sat on his hips, repeatedly punching him in the head. 
 
 "Sgt. Frost decided to shoot his attacker, in part because he feared that if he lost all consciousness Deven would take his gun and shoot him," it continues. 
 
 A GoFundMe campaign supporting Frost claims that the officer and his family have received threats over the incident. With 24 donations, the campaign has raised $1,235. 
 
 Guilford's father Brian is suing Frost for illegal seizure and wrongful death, and suing both Frost and Eaton County for excessive force. He is represented by Hugh Davis with Detroit-based Constitutional Litigation Associates. 
 
 Davis said the Guilfords were not always convinced that the officer was completely to blame. 
 
 "They believed, until the official report and video came out, that Deven must have done something to deserve what happened, because they have such a deep and abiding faith in law enforcement," Davis said in a phone interview. "From their point of view, it's kind of shattered their universe." 
 
 But to Davis, who said he has received multiple complaints about the Eaton County Sheriff's Department, it was no surprise. 
 
 The attorney noted that people all over the country have spoken out against Frost's actions. They have filed requests under the Freedom of Information Act, and they started an online activist network. The family and supporters will host a rally on the Capitol steps on Oct. 24 at 10 a.m., he said. 
 
 "It's incomprehensible to us that [Frost] got his nose in it because Deven accused him of having his bright lights on," Davis said. "That's not a real good reason to kill somebody." 
 
 The Eaton County Sheriff's Department has not returned calls and emails seeking comment. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Editor's Note: Eaton County Sheriff Tom Reich released a statement Friday supporting Sgt. Jonathan Frost and the prosecutor who declined to press charges. 
 
 "The last thing that Sgt. Frost or any law enforcement officer wants to do is to be put into a position where he is compelled to use his firearm to defend his life," Reich said. "But when that occurs, it is understandable and reasonable that a decision to use a firearm will be challenged and scrutinized by many sources." 
 
 Reich said the prosecutors concluded "that the force used by Sgt. Frost was lawful, based upon his honest and reasonable belief that he faced a serious and imminent threat of great bodily harm or death." 
 
 "My office conducted an internal review, which determined that Sgt. Frost had not violated Eaton County Sheriff's office regulations, general orders and his training," Reich added. "I stand by both of those determinations." 
 
 Devan Guilford's death led the sheriff's department to review how it trains officers on using their Tasers, among other things, according to the statement. 

 The family's decision comes four months after Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd determined that Sgt. Jonathan Frost's actions were lawful when he shot and killed Deven Guilford during a traffic stop. 
 
 Deven Guilford 
 
 EATON COUNTY — The family of a 17-year-old Mulliken teen shot who was shot and killed by an Eaton County Sheriff's sergeant following a February traffic stop filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against the county and the police officer. 
 
 Deven Guilford's parents, Brian and Becky Guilford, said in a statement that their trust in law enforcement was "shaken to the core" by the shooting. 
 
 "As we take this action today we are outraged at the huge miscarriage of justice done to our son Deven Guilford," they said. 
 
 The lawsuit comes four months after Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd cleared Sgt. Jonathan Frost of criminal wrongdoing. Frost shot Deven Guilford, who was unarmed, seven times during the traffic stop. 
 
 The lawsuit against Frost and Eaton County alleges that Frost's "entire course of action was illegal and in violation of Deven's constitutional rights." 
 
 "Deven's tragic and totally unnecessary death represents a disturbing trend of demanding 100% compliance with police authority, coupled with zero tolerance of risk of harm to police officers," said Cynthia Heenan of Constitutional Litigation Associates P.C., a Detroit law firm specializing in police misconduct litigation and representing the family, in a statement. 
 
 The lawsuit asks for a jury trial but does not seek specific monetary damages. 
 
 Theresa O'Dell, executive assistant to Eaton County Sheriff Tom Reich, said county officials have been advised not to comment by their legal counsel. Eaton County Controller John Fuentes also declined to comment on the lawsuit. 
 
 Frost, an eight-year veteran, initiated the traffic stop around 8 p.m. Feb. 28 on M-43 in Roxand Township after Guilford flashed his bright lights at Frost because he thought Frost's brights were on. 
 
 According to his family, Guilford was driving home from a basketball game at Liberty Church in Grand Ledge and was on his way to his girlfriend's home to watch movies. 
 
 A Michigan State Police investigation included the review of video of the stop, both from Guilford's cell phone — the teen was recording the traffic stop — and Frost's body camera. Frost's new patrol vehicle did not have a dash camera, according to Lloyd. 
 
 Guilford refused to give Frost his driver's license, registration and proof of insurance, which would have been a misdemeanor, according to Lloyd. It was later determined Guilford's license was with his girlfriend. Frost declined requests from Guilford for his badge number. 
 
 Frost pulled Guilford from the vehicle and ordered him to lie on his stomach next to his vehicle. When Guilford would not put both his hands behind his back as Frost was attempting to handcuff him, Frost fired his stun gun into Guilford. The stun gun wasn't fully effective because only one of two probes embedded into Guilford, according to Lloyd. 
 
 Lloyd says the investigation determined an altercation then ensued, which ended in a snow-filled ditch. Guilford was shot seven times. There is no video of the final moments of the traffic stop. Frost's body camera came off during what Lloyd said was a struggle. Guilford's cell phone remained on the pavement, recording audio of the gunshots but did not capture video of the shooting. Frost was treated for facial injuries at a local hospital and released. 
 
 Toxicology results showed that THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, was in Guilford's system at the time of the stop. 
 
 "The officer did nothing to calm or de-escalate the situation," the Guilford family statement says. "Instead, Frost rapidly became argumentative and agitated when Deven asserted that the officer had been driving with his high beams on and resisted producing his ID." 
 
 Aaron Guilford, Deven's brother, called his death "senseless." 
 
 "I don't understand how an innocent situation can escalate so much to end in the death of a harmless kid," he said in a statement. "Deven was listening to Frost's commands, he never swore or used any profane language. He was confused and he never received any respect in return." 
 
 An internal investigation into the shooting released in August determined that the sergeant followed Eaton County Sheriff’s Office “regulations, general orders and training.” 
 
 It did, however, recommend the department “re-emphasize” training on stun gun use and continue to place an emphasis during training on communication and “defensive ground fighting tactics.” 
 
 Supporters of the Guilford family are planning to hold a rally at the State Capitol from 2 to 5 p.m. Oct. 24. 
 
 Contact Rachel Greco at 517-528-2075 or rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @GrecoatLSJ. 
 
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– At around 8pm on Feb. 28, Michigan 17-year-old Deven Guilford flashed his brights at an Eaton County Sheriff's sergeant's SUV because he thought the SUV's high-beams were on, which made it hard for him to see. Sgt. Jonathan Frost turned around and pulled Guilford over, and the traffic stop ended with the unarmed Guilford dead after being shot seven times by Frost. The Eaton County Prosecutor ultimately cleared Frost of any criminal wrongdoing, and now, four months after that, Guilford's family has filed a federal lawsuit against Frost and the county, the Detroit Free Press reports. "Deven's tragic and totally unnecessary death represents a disturbing trend of demanding 100% compliance with police authority, coupled with zero tolerance of risk of harm to police officers," says an attorney from the law firm representing the family. The lawsuit seeks a jury trial. Video of the incident shows Guilford and Frost arguing over whether Frost's brights were on—Frost explains that the SUV is new and the headlights are brighter than usual, and that he also pulled over several other people who flashed him to explain this; the lawsuit notes that Frost stopped two other drivers that day for the same reason, even though it is not illegal to flash your brights at another vehicle, Courthouse News reports. Guilford refuses to turn over his license, registration, and insurance information; Frost refuses to give Guilford his badge number and calls for backup. Frost ultimately pulls Guilford from the car and orders him to lie on his stomach, but when Guilford won't put his hands behind his back, Frost tases him. An altercation ensues that ends with Guilford's death; Frost sustained facial injuries. Guilford was later found to have THC in his system at the time of the stop, but his brother calls his death "senseless." "Deven was listening to Frost's commands, he never swore or used any profane language," he says. "He was confused and he never received any respect in return."