Competency Exam Ordered For Suspect In Deputy's Death

OAKLAND COUNTY, MI — A Macomb Township man charged with killing Oakland County Sheriff’s Deputy Eric Overall has been ordered to undergo a mental competency evaluation. Christopher Joseph Berak, 22, will be evaluated for up to 60 days at the state Forensic Center in Ypsilanti to determine if he is competent to stand trial, according to a Detroit News report.

Overall, a 22-year veteran of the Sheriff's Office, was killed early Thanksgiving morning last month while attempting to stop a police pursuit. A probable cause hearing was held Monday at 52-2 District Court in Clarkston.

Berak’s attorney, Stephen Rabult, requested the competency evaluation, the Detroit News reported. Judge Joseph G. Fabrizio granted the request and will hold a review hearing on the evaluation result on Feb. 12, 2018.

Berak is charged with first degree premeditated homicide and murder in connection with Overall's death.

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. on Thanksgiving morning. The pursuit went westbound on I-69 from the Thumb Correctional Facility in Lapeer 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.

Thousands of people and officers from around the country attended Overall’s funeral late last month. The entire metropolitan Detroit showed an outpouring of sympathy for Overall and his surviving family members.

Several candlelight vigils were held. Tens of thousands of dollars have also been raised for the family.

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