Oakland County Sheriff: Driver 'deliberately ran down' deputy, killing him

An Oakland County sheriff's deputy who was struck and killed early Thanksgiving morning by a fleeing suspect was known for his kindness and his work with youth.

Eric Overall, 50, was deploying stop sticks on a highway in Brandon Township in an effort to stop a police pursuit when the driver, a 22-year-old Macomb Township man, deliberately ran him down, according to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.

Overall died of blunt force trauma; his death was ruled a homicide by the county medical examiner.

The suspect was arrested at the scene.

Overall, a 22-year veteran of the sheriff's office, was recently married and lived in Genesee County. He had one adult son.

News of his death devastated the law enforcement community and prompted an outpouring of support for him and his family.

The pursuit began in Lapeer County in the parking lot of the county jail, said Lapeer County Sheriff Scott McKenna.

"The actions and threats made by the suspect, prior to the pursuit, posed an imminent threat to the public," McKenna said in a news release. Traffic was minimal and the pursuit was at moderate speeds, he said.

The pursuit continued on westbound I-69 to southbound M-15, crossing into Oakland County.

Overall had just deployed tire-deflating stop sticks on the southbound side of M-15 at Seymour Lake Road and was "well off the roadway" when the driver purposely swerved to hit him at about 12:30 a.m., the Oakland County Sheriff's Office said. The suspect's car flipped in the crash.

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The driver is being held at Macomb County Jail. He has four prior convictions for marijuana possession and one for resisting and obstructing police.

Overall touched many young lives during his career, according to people who knew him.

Stevi Worthington, 25, of Northville said Overall was assigned to Walled Lake Central High School when she was a student there.

"I was a very troubled kid; I got into some bad things," she said. "He was kind of like a rock to me. He helped guide me past all that, and move me in the right direction."

She added: "He was an amazing man."

Kai Malkasian, 37, of Brandon Township, said Overall mentored her 12-year-old son, Kailand Harris.

"He was just so nice," she said. "He spoke to everyone he came in contact with. When he was riding around the community, he made a point to stop and talk with residents, just a great guy.

"He really loved lived the kids out here."

Overall's funeral arrangements are pending. A GoFundMe account has been set up to help his family.

The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit is investigating the crash and expected to present the case to prosecutors Saturday.

Contact Robert Allen on Twitter @rallenMI or rallen@freepress.com.