US Sen. Kevin Cramer’s son, 42, is charged with manslaughter after crashing stolen car into North Dakota sheriff’s deputy and killing him during police chase

Sen. Kevin Cramer’s son was charged Thursday with manslaughter and fleeing a police officer after a police pursuit ended in a crash that killed a North Dakota sheriff’s deputy who was installing a tire deflation device.

Ian Kramer, 42, is due to make his first court appearance on Friday.

Online records show he was charged with manslaughter, fleeing a police officer and reckless endangerment, as well as a misdemeanor count of driving with a suspended license. His attorney was not listed in court records.

Kramer’s mother took him to the hospital about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday due to concerns about his mental health, Bismarck police said.

As she got out of the SUV, Ian Kramer got behind the wheel and drove through the door to escape the locked ambulance bay in the hospital’s emergency room.

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 ensued and the SUV crashed into a Mercer County sheriff’s cruiser parked along a state highway.

The officer was standing behind a parked vehicle preparing to use a tire deflation device to end the pursuit.

The crash caused a parked vehicle to hit the deputy, killing him. He was identified Thursday as 53-year-old Paul Martin.

Jan Kramer was examined in hospital and then jailed. The patrol said charges are pending.

“We ask the public to pray for the family of the fallen officer and his colleagues who serve us every day and are grateful for everything they do for us,” Kevin Kramer said in a statement.

The first-term Republican senator wrote that his son “suffers from severe mental health issues that include severe paranoia and hallucinations.”

Earlier Wednesday, Ian Kramer insisted on “going to see his brother Ike,” who died in 2018, according to a statement that did not explain what that meant.

Worried, Kris Kramer took her son to the emergency room at Sanford Health in Bismarck.

After parking in the ambulance bay, “Ian got into the driver’s seat, allegedly rammed the bay doors and fled the scene,” Bismarck police said.

The senator’s daughter tracked the SUV through her cell phone and alerted authorities. The patrol said that when a Mercer County deputy spotted Ian Kramer in Hazen and approached him, Kramer fled.

The crash happened shortly after on North Dakota Highway 200, about 5 miles from 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, husband, father and grandfather.” Our wound is fresh and our hearts are broken.”

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum ordered government agencies to fly flags at half-staff in Martin’s honor until sunset on the day of his funeral. He urged residents to do the same.

At the hospital in Bismarck, the main entrance to the emergency department and the ambulance garage were damaged, according to Sanford Health Bismarck.

The entrance is temporarily out of service since the temporary entrance was installed. No one was injured, the hospital said.

Whitney Zidow, 36, who lives near Hazen, said Martin was once her neighbor; she sometimes cared for the retired police dogs he kept when he was away from home.

“He was just a fantastic person,” Zeadov said, fighting back tears. “He was the kind of guy who would be your advocate. He was just there to support the community, to help the kids. Any little thing. He was just a pleasure to be around.”

Kevin Cramer was elected to the Senate in 2018 after serving three terms in the House of Representatives. He was a strong supporter of law enforcement.

In a statement Wednesday, Kramer said his family mourns with “the family of the hero who tried to help Ian,” referring to Martin.

In 2013, Ian Kramer was charged with simple assault for allegedly injuring his brother’s head; he pleaded guilty.

His record also includes several traffic tickets this year and last, some of which came the day before the accident, for driving under suspension. Bismarck Police Lt. Luke Gardiner said Tuesday’s citation has nothing to do with Wednesday’s events.

The Kramer family has already experienced tragedy.

Isaac “Ike” Kramer began dating a woman in 2007, the mother of baby Abel. Three years later, the woman was killed by her ex-husband. Kevin and Chris Kramer adopted a 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 the Senate, Ike Cramer died of liver and kidney failure after a long battle with alcohol addiction. He was 35.

Kevin Kramer wrote on Facebook at the time that he and his wife were at his bedside when he “took his last breath on Earth.” Now Isaac does not feel anxious or urge to drink. He feels no pain and will never be depressed again.”

After Martin’s death, those who posted messages on the sheriff’s department Facebook page included those who said the deputy had sent 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 my kids and I were completely safe,” she said, adding, “It doesn’t feel real yet, but it’s amazing.”