OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – An Oakland County community is grieving Friday after the unexpected death of a sheriff's deputy.
A vigil was held Thursday night for the officer, who was killed during a pursuit.
Early Thanksgiving morning, while many folks slept, Deputy Eric Overall was on duty, trying to stop a vehicle fleeing Lapeer County deputies.
"When he was deploying the stop sticks, he was struck by the suspect," Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said.
Investigators insisted the driver intentionally veered his car in Overall's direction, killing him.
Fellow officers, first responders and the Oakland County community came together to support Eric Overall's wife, Sonja Overall.
"He treated everyone with the utmost respect," Sonja Overall said. "Not a single person could ever say anything negative about him because he was just that wonderful. He wore his heart on his sleeve. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do for anybody, even the bad guys."
That's why so many, including Bouchard, gathered on Thanksgiving at the fallen deputy's memorial outside the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.
"The fact he was a school liaison officer speaks volumes of him as a person," said close friend Chery Calcaterra. "The fact he worked with children all the time, he helped them through their life struggles."
"His friends called him E (or) Big E," said another close friend, Michael Calcatera. "Very inspirational guy. Great guy. Family guy, and he was there for my family when we needed him."
Overall was 50 years old and had served on the police force for 22 years.
"I know my husband is an amazing man," Sonja Overall said.
Deputies arrested the alleged driver of the vehicle, a 22-year-old man from Macomb County. He has prior convictions for possession of marijuana and resisting officers. He is being held at the Macomb County Jail and is awaiting charges.
The family said funeral arrangements for Eric Overall are still pending, but the visitation will be Monday and the funeral will be sometime Tuesday.