The son of Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) was charged on Thursday in connection to a crash that killed a North Dakota sheriff’s deputy this week.
Police received a report of a stolen SUV that was being driven on Wednesday night by 42-year-old Ian Cramer and, when law enforcement approached him, he drove off.
Ian Cramer was charged with felony counts of manslaughter, fleeing a police officer, and reckless endangerment. He also was charged with a misdemeanor count of driving with a suspended license.
Ian Cramer’s mother took him to the hospital on Wednesday night over concerns about his mental health. When she got out of the car, Ian jumped in the driver’s seat and took off.
Law enforcement officials spotted the vehicle over an hour later and the situation quickly turned into a high-speed chase with Ian Cramer reaching speeds of over 100 mph.
Deputy Paul Martin took cover behind his patrol car after setting up a tire deflation device on the road. When Ian Cramer saw the device, he swerved and hit the patrol car, thus ramming “directly into Martin’s person and launching him for about 100 feet,” court documents said.
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NDHP honors the memory and sacrifice of Mercer County Deputy Paul Martin and sends condolences to his family, friends and the entire Mercer County community. pic.twitter.com/54IUB7l26p
— North Dakota Highway Patrol (@NDHighwayPatrol) December 7, 2023
Sen. Cramer addressed the incident in a statement, saying that his son “suffers from serious mental disorders which manifest in severe paranoia and hallucinations.”
“Kris was with Ian when he insisted on going to his brother Ike. Ike died in 2018,” said Cramer. “Kris took Ian to the Sanford Health emergency room in Bismarck. When she got out of our vehicle, Ian jumped into the driver’s seat and fled. Our daughter was able to track the car through Kris’ cell phone and lead officers to him in Mercer County, ND.”
He said that he was focused on getting back to the state so that he could be with his family.
“We grieve especially for the family of the hero who tried to help Ian, and we pray for our gracious God to show up as He always does in tragedy,” he said. “We ask the public for prayers for the lost officer’s family and colleagues who serve us every day and are grateful for all they do for us. We also ask God for healing for Ian. We love him and hurt deeply.”