Timeline of fatal Deven Guilford traffic stop

CHARLOTTE – The fatal exchange between Eaton County Sgt. Jonathan Frost and 17-year-old Deven Guilford on Feb. 28 lasted five minutes and 39 seconds. It started with Guilford being pulled over for flashing his bright lights at Frost, and ended with Guilford dead, laying in a snow bank on M-43.

The traffic stop took place in the dark on a rural stretch of the road in Roxand Township, illuminated only by headlights and Frost's flashlight. By the end Guilford had been shot seven times, once in the head and six times in the upper body at close range.

The details were pieced together through video taken at the scene by both Frost and Guilford and the findings of the Michigan State Police, the agency that investigated.

According to his family, Guilford was driving home from a basketball game at Liberty Church in Grand Ledge around 8 p.m. when he was stopped for flashing his bright lights at Frost.

Frost was in a new patrol vehicle, and Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd said a driver he had pulled over earlier in the evening had complained about the brightness of the SUV's headlights.

Here's a break-down of the events, according to Lloyd:

•Guilford was argumentative when Frost approached his vehicle. After he was asked for his license, registration and proof of insurance, he maintained that the brights on Frost's headlights were on when he flashed his at the patrol car.

•Frost disagreed. He asked for Guilford's documents again, but Guilford refused.

•Guilford began filming the encounter with his cell phone shortly after Frost approached his vehicle.

"I do not have my license sir," said Guilford. "I'm going to get it." A few seconds later he states that he does have his license. Lloyd said investigators later learned Guilford's license wasn't with him.

•Guilford never turned over his license or registration; about four minutes into the stop Frost requested back-up. "Get out of the car," Frost said then.

•Guilford didn't comply and Frost opened the vehicle door and tried to remove Guilford from his vehicle. "Do not touch me," said Guilford. "Do not open my car."

•Frost pointed his stun gun at Guilford and told him to get out of the vehicle. Guilford eventually got out and laid on his belly on the ground. He continued to film the encounter, lying on his chest with one hand extended out and the other hand holding a cell phone.

•Frost ordered Guilford to extend both hands to either side. He didn't comply.

•Frost approached him and tried to handcuff him, and when Guilford didn't comply with the request to put his hands behind his back Frost used his stun gun. Lloyd said only one of the weapon's barbs embedded in Guilford's back and he yelled in pain. The other barb snagged his shirt.

•Guilford was able to get up and charge at Frost, Lloyd said. Still images of the video, blurred during this exchange, show Guilford moving toward Frost.

•Frost backed up, said Lloyd, and he and Guilford moved off to the side of the road.

Frost's body camera was knocked off into the snow during the altercation but Guilford's cell phone, laying on the pavement by his car, kept recording.

Lloyd said the struggle ended with Guilford on top of Frost in a roadside ditch. Guilford was hitting Frost in the face, he said.

Lloyd said Frost reported that he feared he would lose consciousness and that Guilford would take his gun. Lloyd said Frost felt he needed to defend himself and used his gun to do so.

Lloyd said Frost's gun did not fire at first, but Frost ejected an unfired round and eventually fired seven shots, all of which hit Guilford at close range. Guilford was shot once in the head, right chest, upper belly, left armpit, lower chest, right wrist and right forearm.

Contact Rachel Greco at (517) 528-2075 or rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @GrecoatLSJ.