Sheriff: Michigan deputy run down by car during police pursuit

A Michigan deputy with 22 years of experience was killed early Thursday morning when he was hit by a man driving a vehicle who was fleeing police, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Deputy Eric Overall, 50, died when he was “deliberately ran down” after putting down “stop sticks” to slow down the suspect’s vehicle, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department said.

Overall was outside of his patrol car at approximately 12:31 a.m. the suspect saw him him, deputies said. The suspect's vehicle then rolled over, the Free Press reported.

The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide, and said Overall died of blunt force trauma, CNN reported.

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said Overall “had a great career here and touched a lot of lives.”

“Deputy Overall was not in the roadway at the time, and in fact was well off the roadway, and he had just deployed the ‘stop sticks.’ It is our belief ... from all evidence collected that the suspect deliberately ran down Deputy Overall, swerving to hit him,” according to a statement from the Oakland County sheriff's office.

The suspect is from Macomb Township and is now in the Macomb County Jail. CNN reported. The Oakland County Sheriff's Office's Special Investigations Unit will present a warrant request to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office on Saturday, the statement said.

Overall was recently married and has an adult son. A GoFundMe account was set up to help Overall's family, and the goal of $30,000 was met by late Thursday.

Cox Media Group