Adult Son of ND US Senator Cramer Arrested In Stolen Vehicle Crash That Killed Sheriff’s Deputy

Charges are pending against the adult son of North Dakota US Senator Kevin Cramer after a chase that killed a Mercer County Sheriff’s Deputy Wednesday evening.  The North Dakota Highway Patrol says a stolen SUV driven by 42-year-old Ian Cramer of Bismarck was spotted in Hazen.  When law enforcement approached Cramer, he took off in the vehicle and a pursuit ensued.  During the chase, Cramer’s SUV veered and crashed head-on into an unoccupied Mercer County Sheriff’s Department patrol car that was parked on a roadside approach.  53-year-old Deputy Paul Martin of Beulah (pictured) was standing outside and behind the patrol car when it was hit.  The impact of the crash pushed the patrol car into Martin, killing him.  

Cramer was arrested and is being held in the McLean County Detention Center in Washburn.

Martin was an 18-year veteran of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office and leaves behind a wife and three children.