Ian Cramer, 42, the son of North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer, was arrested on felony charges after a high-speed car chase that concluded in a fatal crash near Hazen.
The incident resulted in the death of Mercer County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Martin, 53, an 18-year veteran of the force.
According to a statement released by Senator Cramer, the sequence of events began at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday when Kris Cramer, the senator’s wife, transported Ian to a Bismarck emergency room due to a reported mental health crisis.
Ian, suffering from “serious mental disorders which manifest in severe paranoia and hallucinations,” escaped custody at the hospital and stole a black 2017 Chevrolet S.U.V.
The Bismarck Police Department reported that Ian Cramer breached the hospital’s security by driving the stolen vehicle through the ambulance bay doors, prompting authorities to report it as stolen.
Using Kris Cramer’s phone left in the vehicle, law enforcement tracked Ian Cramer to Hazen, approximately 70 miles away. The ensuing pursuit covered five miles before Cramer crashed the S.U.V. into an unoccupied sheriff’s patrol car parked on the highway.
Deputy Martin, who had been standing behind the patrol car during the crash, succumbed to injuries sustained in the incident. The North Dakota Highway Patrol revealed that Deputy Martin was preparing to deploy a tire deflation device to stop the fleeing driver.
Ian Cramer was transported to a Hazen hospital before being booked into jail in neighboring McLean County. As of Thursday evening, he remains in custody on charges of manslaughter, fleeing the police, resisting arrest, and reckless endangerment.
No legal representation is listed in Ian Cramer’s court records. The Bismarck Police Department is collaborating with the state’s attorney in Burleigh County to address charges related to the crimes committed within their jurisdiction.
The incident has prompted discussions around mental health awareness and support within the criminal justice system, and the community mourns the loss of Deputy Martin.
Discover more from NJTODAY.NET
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.