Sen. Kevin Cramer’s son charged with manslaughter

Sen. Kevin Cramer’s (R-N.D.) son was charged with manslaughter Thursday after he killed a North Dakota sheriff’s deputy in a car wreck Wednesday evening, according to local police.

Police said Ian Cramer, 42, crashed his family’s SUV that was reported stolen into a police cruiser following an hourlong chase, killing the sheriff’s deputy standing behind the vehicle.

The younger Cramer was charged with manslaughter, fleeing a police officer and reckless endangerment, as well as a misdemeanor count of driving with a suspended license, court records show. His first court appearance is scheduled for Friday.

The deputy, Paul Martin, was outside his patrol car to deploy a tire deflation device to end the pursuit when he was killed, police said.

In a statement earlier Thursday, the senator said his son suffered from mental health issues that manifest in paranoia and hallucinations. 

“I will take the first flight I can to be with our family as we grieve what has happened,” Kevin Cramer said. “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. 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.”

The senator said his wife, Kris, had taken Ian to the Sanford Health emergency room in Bismarck, N.D., Wednesday night after he insisted on seeing his brother, Ike, who died in 2018.

The senator said that when his wife stepped out of the vehicle, his son hopped into the driver’s seat and fled. While driving off, Ian Cramer drove through the hospital’s emergency entrance, damaging it, according to The Associated Press.

The senator’s daughter tracked where Ian Cramer was going through his wife’s cell phone, which led officers to locate him in nearby Mercer County, where the crash occurred.

“We also ask God for healing for Ian. We love him and hurt deeply,” the senator said in his statement.

Lauren Sforza contributed to this report.