Sen. Kevin Cramer's son now faces murder charges after a police chase ended in a crash that killed a North Dakota sheriff's deputy who set down a tire pump.
Ian Cramer initially faced a manslaughter charge 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 the crime to murder while fleeing a peace officer and add drug charges.
The murder charge states that the death was caused negligently rather than recklessly 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 a police officer, avoiding arrest and reckless endangerment. The drug charges include possession of methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. He is charged with nine felonies, including four felonies.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Cramer's public defender and the North Dakota State's Attorney for comment.
Ian Cramer (pictured), the son of Senator Kevin Cramer, now faces murder charges after a police chase ended in a crash that killed a North Dakota sheriff's deputy who planted a tire deflation device
Cramer, who is in jail, is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
Authorities who searched the vehicle, which has been seized since the crash, say they found several grams of meth, cocaine and marijuana in a backpack, as well as baggies, rolled dollar bills, smoking devices and lighters, as well as booking papers for Ian from Arizona jail . Kramer.
Cramer was driven to a hospital by his mother on Dec. 6 around 4:30 p.m. due to concerns about his mental health, Bismarck police said.
When she got out of the SUV, Ian Cramer took the wheel and drove through a door to get out of the locked ambulance bay in the hospital's emergency department.
More than an hour later, a deputy from neighboring Mercer County spotted Cramer and the Chevrolet Tahoe in Hazen, a community about 70 miles northwest of Bismarck.
The North Dakota Highway Patrol said in a news release that a pursuit began and the SUV crashed into a Mercer County sheriff's vehicle parked along a state highway.
An officer stood behind the parked vehicle preparing to deploy a tire deflation device to end the pursuit.
The impact of the crash pushed the parked vehicle into the officer, killing him. He was identified Thursday as 53-year-old Paul Martin.
Ian Cramer was examined in a hospital and then jailed. The patrol said charges are pending.
“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,” Kevin Cramer said in a statement.
The first-term Republican senator wrote that his son “suffers from severe mental disorders manifested by severe paranoia and hallucinations.”
Earlier Wednesday, Ian Cramer insisted on “going to see his brother Ike,” who died in 2018, according to the statement, which did not further explain what that means.
The impact of the crash pushed the parked vehicle into the officer, killing him. He was identified on Thursday as 53-year-old Paul Martin (photo)
“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,” Kevin Cramer (pictured) said in a statement.
Alarmed, Kris Cramer took her son to the emergency room at Sanford Health in Bismarck.
While parked in the ambulance bay, “Ian climbed into the driver's seat and allegedly rammed the parking lot doors and fled the scene,” Bismarck police said.
The senator's daughter tracked the SUV via cell phone and alerted authorities. The patrol said Cramer fled when a Mercer County sheriff's deputy spotted Ian Cramer in Hazen and approached him.
The crash happened a short time later on North Dakota Highway 200, about 5 miles outside of Hazen.
Martin was an 18-year veteran of the sheriff's office who said 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 grandfather.” Our wound is raw and our hearts are broken.”
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum ordered state agencies to fly flags at half-staff in Martin's honor until sunset on the day he is buried. He encouraged residents to do the same.
According to Sanford Health Bismarck, the Bismarck hospital sustained damage to the main entrance to the emergency department vehicle and ambulance garage.
This photo shows where the Sanford Health Emergency Department's main vehicle entrance and ambulance garage sustained damage Wednesday in connection with Ian Cramer's drive away from the hospital
The entrance is temporarily out of use, a temporary entrance has now been installed. No one was injured, the hospital said.
Whitney Zeadow, 36, who lives near Hazen, said Martin was once her neighbor; sometimes she cared for the retired police dogs he kept when he was not home.
“He was just a wonderful man,” Zeadow said, fighting back tears. “He was the type who would be your champion. He was just there to support the community and help the kids. Every little thing. It was just a joy to be with him.”
Kevin Cramer was elected to the Senate in 2018 after serving three terms in the House of Representatives. He was a fierce advocate for law enforcement.
In his statement Wednesday, Cramer said his family grieves for “the family of the hero that Ian tried to help,” a reference to Martin.
In 2013, Ian Cramer was charged with simple assault for allegedly injuring his brother's head; he pleaded guilty.
His record also includes several traffic fines this year and last, some even the day before the accident, for driving under suspension. Lt. Luke Gardiner of the Bismarck Police Department said Tuesday's citation is not related to Wednesday's events.
The Cramer family has experienced tragedies before.
Isaac “Ike” Cramer started dating a woman who was a mother of one child, Abel, in 2007. Three years later, the woman was murdered 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 run 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 the bedside when he “took his last breath on earth.” Now Isaac feels no anxiety or craving for alcohol. He feels no pain and will never be depressed again.”
After Martin's death, those posting on the sheriff's department Facebook page 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 one of 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 does hit home.”