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Suspect in death of Mich. deputy faces first-degree murder charge

Christopher Berak, 22, faces life in prison without parole

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Pictured is Deputy Eric Overall.

Photo/Oakland County Sheriff’s Office

By Hasan Dudar
Detroit Free Press

DETROIT — A Macomb Township man, who authorities say claimed to be God, is facing a first-degree murder charge in the death of an Oakland County sheriff’s deputy on Thanksgiving Day.

Magistrate Marie Soma entered a not-guilty plea Saturday on behalf of Christopher Berak, 22, during a video arraignment at 52-3 District Court in Rochester Hills.

Berak, who was denied bond, is accused of leading police on a 22-mile chase that began in Lapeer County. Authorities say Berak intentionally steered his vehicle into Deputy Eric Overall, 50, causing Overall’s death.

Overall, a 22-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, had gotten out of his car at the intersection of M-15 and Seymour Lake Road in Oakland County to place stop sticks on the road and end the chase.

Overall’s death has been ruled a homicide by the Oakland County Medical Examiner.

At Saturday’s arraignment, Berak was charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of murder of a peace officer. Both counts carry a penalty of life in prison without parole upon conviction.

Berak, who works at a pizzeria and lives with his parents, has prior misdemeanor convictions, including possession of marijuana and attempted fleeing and eluding law enforcement, for which he’s currently on probation in the 41B District Court, said his lawyer, Stephen Rabaut.

Berak’s probable cause conference has been scheduled at the District Court in Clarkston on Dec. 4, at 9 a.m.

Funeral services for Deputy Overall will be held at Mt. Zion Church, 4900 Maybee Road in Clarkston at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, according to the sheriff’s office. Doors open at 9:30 a.m.

©2017 the Detroit Free Press

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