Sen. Kevin Cramer's son is now charged with murder after a police pursuit ended in a crash that killed a North Dakota sheriff's deputy who dropped a tire pressure gauge.
Ian Cramer, 42, was initially charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the Dec. 6 death of Mercer County Sheriff's Deputy Paul Martin on a highway near Hazen.
A judge approved new charges Thursday that change that offense to murder while fleeing a peace officer and add drug charges.
The murder charge says the death was caused by negligence rather than intentionally and carries higher maximum penalties than manslaughter – up to 20 years in prison and a possible $20,000 fine.
Cramer still faces charges of fleeing from a police officer, hindering apprehension and reckless endangerment. Drug offenses include possession of methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. He is charged with nine crimes, including four felonies.
Ian Cramer (pictured), the son of Senator Kevin Cramer, is now charged with murder after a police pursuit ended in a crash that killed a North Dakota sheriff's deputy who dropped a tire pressure gauge
Cramer, who is in jail, is due in court on Monday.
Mercer County Prosecutor Todd Schwarz said in court Friday he plans to add the drug charge. He did not immediately respond to a message left at his office.
has reached out to Cramer's public defender and the North Dakota Attorney General for comment.
At that court appearance, District Judge Bobbi Weiler set bail at $500,000, as requested by prosecutors, and ordered a mental health evaluation.
Authorities who searched the vehicle impounded since the crash said they found several grams of meth, cocaine and marijuana in a backpack, as well as baggies, rolled-up dollar bills, smoking devices and lighters, and booking records for Ian at the Arizona Cramer Jail.
Cramer was driven to a hospital by his mother around 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 6 because he was concerned about his mental health, Bismarck police said.
According to court documents, he stopped at his home and picked up items, including the backpack.
As she got out of the SUV, Ian Cramer took the wheel and drove through a door to get out of the closed ambulance bay of the hospital's emergency room.
Due to the force of the impact, the parked vehicle was thrown into the police officer and he died. He was identified on Thursday as 53-year-old Paul Martin (pictured)
More than an hour later, a deputy in neighboring Mercer County spotted Cramer and the Chevrolet Tahoe in Hazen, a community about 70 miles northwest of Bismarck.
Cramer reached speeds of 100 mph and continued driving even after a spiked device flattened two tires, authorities said. A
About 5 miles outside of Hazen, more spikes were set up and Cramer went into a spin and then crashed head-on into Martin's patrol car, throwing him about 100 feet into the air, according to charging documents.
The North Dakota Highway Patrol said in a news release that a chase began and the SUV crashed into a Mercer County sheriff's vehicle, which was parked on a state highway.
A police officer stood behind the parked vehicle and prepared to use a tire pressure gauge to end the chase.
Due to the force of the impact, the parked vehicle was thrown into the police officer and he died. He was identified Thursday as 53-year-old Paul Martin.
Ian Cramer was examined at a hospital and then detained. The patrol said charges are pending.
“We ask the public for prayers for the family and colleagues of the lost officer who serve us every day and are grateful for all they do for us,” Kevin Cramer said in a statement.
“We ask the public for prayers for the family and colleagues of the lost officer who serve us every day and are grateful for all they do for us,” Kevin Cramer (pictured) said in a statement.
The first-term Republican senator wrote that his son “suffers from severe mental disorders manifested by severe paranoia and hallucinations.”
Previously, Ian Cramer had insisted on “going to his brother Ike, who died in 2018,” the statement said, which did not elaborate on what that meant.
Alarmed, Kris Cramer took her son to the emergency room at Sanford Health in Bismarck.
While parked in the ambulance lot, Ian “sat in the driver's seat, allegedly rammed the parking lot doors and fled the scene,” Bismarck police said.
The senator's daughter tracked the SUV on a cellphone and alerted authorities. The patrol said when a Mercer County deputy spotted Ian Cramer in Hazen and approached him, Cramer fled.
The accident occurred a short time later on North Dakota Highway 200, about 5 miles outside of Hazen.
Martin had been with the sheriff's office for 18 years, which stated he was married with three children.
In a post on the sheriff's office Facebook page, Mercer County Sheriff Terry Ternes said Martin is “our beloved brother in law enforcement, a husband, father and grandpa.” Our wound is raw and our hearts are broken.'
This photo shows where the main entrance to the Sanford Health Emergency Department's vehicle and ambulance shop was damaged Wednesday as Ian Cramer drove away from the hospital
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum ordered government agencies to fly flags at half-staff until sunset on the day of his funeral in Martin's honor. He encouraged residents to do the same.
According to Sanford Health Bismarck, the hospital in Bismarck suffered damage to the main entrance to its emergency department's vehicle and ambulance garage.
The entrance is temporarily out of order, a temporary entrance has now been set up. No one was injured, the hospital said.
Whitney Zeadow, 36, who lives near Hazen, said Martin was once her neighbor; Sometimes she looked after the retired police dogs he kept when he was away from home.
“He was just a fantastic man,” Zeadow said, fighting back tears. “He was the guy who was going to be your champion. “He was just there to support the community and help the kids. Every detail. He was just a joy to be with.'
Kevin Cramer was elected to the Senate in 2018 after three terms in the House. He was a staunch supporter of law enforcement.
In his statement Wednesday, Cramer said his family mourns with “the family of the hero who tried to help Ian,” a reference to Martin.
In 2013, Ian Cramer was charged with simple assault for allegedly injuring his brother's head; he pleaded guilty.
In this snapshot from the video, Ian Cramer (center left) makes his first court appearance via video link from the McLean County Jail in Washburn
His record also includes several traffic warnings this year and last year, some of them just the day before the accident, for driving while banned. Bismarck Police Lt. Luke Gardiner said Tuesday's statement was unrelated to Wednesday's events.
The Cramer family has experienced tragedy before.
Isaac “Ike” Cramer began dating a woman in 2007 who was the mother of an infant named Abel. Three years later, the woman was killed by her estranged husband. Kevin and Kris Cramer adopted the child, who is now a teenager. Cramer also has two daughters and six grandchildren, according to his Senate website.
In 2018, shortly after Kevin Cramer announced his candidacy for Senate, Ike Cramer died of liver and kidney failure after a long battle with alcohol addiction. He was 35.
Kevin Cramer wrote on Facebook at the time that he and his wife were at their sickbed when he “took his last breath on earth.” Now Isaac feels no fear or urge to drink. He feels no pain and will never be depressed again.'
Posting on the sheriff's department's Facebook page after Martin's death included those who said the deputy took them to jail. They described him as a friendly person and said he was always respectful.
Zeadow said Martin was among the officers who responded when she needed help.
“And he made sure that my children and I were very safe,” she said, adding, “It doesn't seem real yet, but it hits home.”