Man Who Flipped Cops off After They Blocked Him From Warning of Speed Trap Gets $50K

Delaware State Police agreed to pay $50,000 to settle a federal lawsuit filed by a man who alleged that troopers violated his rights by blocking him from warning drivers about a nearby speed trap.  

Jonathan Guessford, 54, held up a “radar ahead” sign in March 2022 to warn drivers. Cpl. Stephen Douglas and Trooper Nicholas Gallo approached him and said he wasn't allowed to display his sign near the road. The altercation culminated with Gallo grabbing the sign and ripping it. 

Guessford raised his middle fingers to the troopers before driving away. The troopers, who were later joined by Master Cpl. Raiford Box, who claimed to be their overseeing officer. They raced after Guessford, driving at 90 mph and another surpassing 100 mph, video footage provided to the Delaware News Journal shows. 

Guessford was stopped and cited for a traffic infraction, which was later dropped. The incident was the catalyst for his lawsuit. A judgment was entered Friday in his favor, the Associated Press reported. 

The man captured the incident in cell phone footage, which he included in his complaint, in addition to dashboard cameras from the troopers’ vehicles. The police were heard on camera plotting to inconvenience Guessford, the AP reported. 

Box’s dash camera audio captured a call with Lt. Christopher Popp, where Box admitted that citing Guessford for his hand gesture was “pushing it.”

Douglas is heard saying that even if the charge was dismissed, it at least “inconvenienced” Guessford, the AP reported.