Man Who Fatally Ran Over Sheriff’s Deputy Sentenced To Life Without Parole

A 24-year-old man accused of running over and killing a sheriff’s deputy in Michigan was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole Tuesday.

Christopher Berak was convicted of first-degree murder and murder of a police officer in the death of Deputy Eric Overall, a 22-year veteran of the Oakland County Sheriff's Office. Overall, 50, was attempting to help end a multi-county police chase by deploying "stop sticks" to deflate Berak’s tires on the day before Thanksgiving in 2017 when the latter's car rolled onto him. It was not known why police were chasing him.

Berak reportedly hit Overall deliberately while being chased by Lapeer County deputies. The man's defense attorney, Steve Rabaut, however, said it was accidental.

Berak, after his arrest, told authorities at the Lapeer County jail that he was "God" who came to free one of his “sons.” "I'm sorry for what I did. I hope that they're all doing OK," Berak later said before sentencing, according to Fox 2 Detroit.

"He was a man of honor and integrity. On and off duty, he always strived to do the right thing. ... Eric had a big heart and wore it on his sleeve," Sonya, Overall's wife, said while speaking of her husband at Berak's sentencing.

"My father impacted so many lives, like Sonya just said -- raised me and my brother up to be the best men we could be," Kenneth Overall, the deputy’s son, said. "My father was a great man, always selfless. That Thanksgiving morning, it will be a day we'll never forget. Every morning, every day we relive it."