Police Will Escalate (Dead Kid Edition)

 Deven Guilford, 17 years old, was pulled over by a copper in Eaton County, Michigan.

Judging from the interaction between the copper and Guilford, as seen from the perspective of the copper's body camera, Guilford had watched some of the online videos that explain how to act in dealings with police. He only had his window rolled down a bit and at one point asked if he was being detained.

But throughout the interaction with the copper, he was confrontational and belligerent, It really doesn't make sense to do so where only a minor penalty will be the result. In the last 15 years, I have been pulled over three times by police, twice for speeding, once for jaywalking. I just took the hit and moved on. There was no way I was going to win any major battle over private roads, etc. by confronting the police that stopped me.

If someone is stopped by police and has 15 pounds of cocaine in the trunk, then it pays for that person to exercise his "right" and not consent to having his car searched, but for minor infractions, let it go.

The police are very prepared for escalation and battle, They wear bullet proof vests, tasers and guns.

Guilford resisted the copper that confronted him, first verbally, then in a struggle. He is now dead.

Here's how the prosecutor in the case explains what went down:

Eaton County Prosecuting Attorney Douglas R. Lloyd announced this morning that charges will not be issued against Eaton County Sheriff's Sgt. Jonathan Frost, who fatally shot Deven Lee Guilford, age 17, of Mulliken, MI on February 28, 2015 on M43 between Grand Ledge and Mulliken. Sgt. Frost discharged his service handgun seven times. A detailed summary of the Michigan State Police Department investigation, and Prosecutor Lloyd's legal conclusions, are summarized in a 19-page press release, which can be downloaded at http://www.eatoncounty.org/images/Departments/Prosecuting Attorney/Press_Releases/Guilford_Press_Release.pdf (updated on 06/17/2015). 

Mr. Lloyd determined that Sgt. Frost acted in a reasonable and honest belief that he was in danger of serious injury, or even being killed, by Mr. Guilford, and shot in justifiable self-defense under Michigan law. Deven Guilford had been stopped for a civil infraction violation (flashing his high beams at the sheriff's department SUV).

Deven believed that Sgt. Frost had his high beams on. Prosecutor Lloyd noted in his release that the motor vehicle code (MCL 257.700(a)) prohibits anyone from using high beams within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle. Deven protested throughout the stop that Sgt. Frost had his high beams on. Deven did not cooperate or comply with Sgt. Frost's eight requests for a driver's license and vehicle paperwork. At one point Deven said he had his license and would not show it, claiming that Sgt. Frost did not have the right to see it.

After several minutes, Sgt. Frost decided to arrest Deven for No License in Possession, a 90-day misdemeanor violation of the motor vehicle code. Deven physically and verbally resisted and opposed Sgt. Frost's attempts to pull him from the car. Eventually, at taser-point, Deven got out of the car. When Deven physically resisted being handcuffed, Sgt. Frost shot his taser at Deven, but it did not connect as needed for the taser to briefly immobilize Deven. Instead, Deven got to his feet and charged at Sgt. Frost. During a 10-15 second physical struggle on a snow-covered roadside culvert, Deven repeatedly punched Sgt. Frost in the face. Sgt. Frost reported that he was losing consciousness, and shot at Deven seven times in less than five seconds because he feared that Deven would inflict serious injury to him, or even kill him if Deven got hold of his service firearm. Deven was shot seven times in his chest, torso, arm, wrist and head. Deven died at the scene.

Video of the confrontation is here,

Be smart, don't confront police directly. You will lose---maybe even your life.

-RW