(WXYZ) — Jury deliberations begin Thursday in the trial of a man accused of killing an Oakland County Sheriff's deputy.
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Christopher Berak, 22, is charged with first-degree murder and murder of a peace officer in the death of Deputy Eric Overall.
Early Thanksgiving Day, Lapeer County Sheriff deputies began pursuing Berak after he went to their jail, claiming to be God.
After Berak left the jail, Lapeer County Sheriff Deputy Kenneth Paul says he and another deputy attempted to get Berak's information and find out more about him and why he'd come to their jail.
Berak stopped twice for Deputy Paul, but drove off each time without giving him any information.
Deputy Paul says they activated their overhead lights but not their sirens and continued to pursue Berak.
Once in Oakland County, as they approached the intersection of M15 and Seymore Lake Road, Deputy Paul says he could see an Oakland County Sheriff's vehicle in the distance and he slowed up.
Paul says he could see Berak, who had not been driving recklessly, now swerve and hit Deputy Overall.
Overall, a well-respected, veteran member of law enforcement, died from his injuries.
It wasn't until Berak spotted Deputy Overall on the side of the road that he steered to hit him, said Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor David Hutson. But Stephen Rabaut, Berak's defense attorney, said his client had no intention on killing the deputy.
Berak faces life in prison if convicted.
