Suspect Charged With Murder In Deputy's Death

ROCHESTER, MI — A 22-year-old Macomb Township man has been arraigned and charged with first degree premeditated homicide and murder in the Thanksgiving morning death of Oakland County Sheriff’s Deputy Eric Overall.

Christopher Joseph Berak was arraigned Saturday at 52-3 District Court in Rochester Hills. He is being held without bond and is due back in court on Dec. 4 for a probable cause hearing. The charges both carry life sentences, according to a Detroit News report.

Overall, 50, had placed stop sticks at the intersection of M-15 and Seymour Lake Road in Brandon Township when Berak allegedly struck him, according to a Sheriff’s Office news release. The Oakland County Medical Examiner ruled Overall’s death a homicide and that he died of blunt force trauma, reports said.

Overall was struck at about 12:30 a.m. Thursday morning. Funeral arrangements have been made for the deputy.

Visitation for Overall will be held Monday from 3 - 8 p.m. at Mt. Zion Church in Independence Township. Funeral services will be held at the church Tuesday at 11 a.m.

Berak is accused of hitting Overall. He has four prior convictions for possession of marijuana and a conviction for resisting and obstructing police, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Berak is being held at the Macomb County jail. The pursuit of the Macomb Township man began in the parking lot of the Lapeer County jail, the Detroit News reported. Lapeer Sheriff Scott McKenna said in a statement that the 22-year-old’s “actions and threats made by the suspect prior to the pursuit posed an imminent threat to the public.”

The pursuit went westbound on I-69 from the jail to southbound M-15 and then entered Oakland County into Brandon Township, reports said. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said Overall was well off the roadway and that the suspect hit him on purpose.

“It is our belief that from all evidence collected that the suspect deliberately ran down Deputy Overall swerving to hit him,” the Sheriff’s Office said.

The metropolitan Detroit community reacted to Overall’s death with an outpouring of emotion and support for his family. Thus far, a GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $49,000 of a $100,000 goal.

“RIP Eric. You were certainly one of the best,” wrote Tina Leitner of Waterford on Overall’s Legacy.com memorial page. “My thoughts and prayers are with your family, both personal and professional at this time of need. The department certainly lost a good one this past week.”

Photos courtesy of the Oakland County Sheriff's Office