Deputy Paul Martin, 53, was killed on 12/6/23 while on duty after taking cover behind his squad car after laying a tire deflation device in the road for a person fleeing an officer. The 42-year-old son of U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, Ian Cramer, was charged on 12/7/23 with manslaughter and fleeing. The incident began when Ian Cramer was driven by his mother to a hospital at around 4:30 p.m. on 12/6/23 over concerns about his mental health. When she got out of the SUV, Cramer took the wheel and crashed through a door to get out of an enclosed ambulance bay at the hospital’s emergency department. The senator’s daughter tracked the SUV through a cellphone and alerted authorities. Over an hour later, a deputy in Mercer County spotted Cramer and the Chevrolet Tahoe in Hazen, a community about 70 miles northwest of Bismarck. The North Dakota Highway Patrol began a chase. Initial efforts to stop Cramer didn’t work. An officer in Beulah used a tire deflation device, which flattened two of Cramer’s tires, but he kept driving on the highway. Beulah Chief of Police Frank Senn and Martin deployed more deflation devices and took cover behind their cars. Cramer swerved then hit Martin’s vehicle. Ian Cramer was traveling over 100 mph and already had two flat tires when he slammed head-on into Deputy Paul Martin’s squad car pushing it directly into Deputy Martin and launching him for about 100 feet killing him. Cramer was then taken into custody. He was evaluated at a hospital then jailed. The patrol said that when a Mercer County deputy spotted Ian Cramer in Hazen and approached him, Cramer fled. The crash happened a short time later on North Dakota Highway 200, about 5 miles (8 kilometers) outside of Hazen. The hospital in Bismarck sustained damage to the main entrance to its emergency department’s vehicle and ambulance garage. The entrance had to be temporarily out of service, with a temporary entrance set up. No one was injured at the hospital. Paul started his law enforcement career with the Army as an MP Canine Officer. He continued his career in law enforcement while in North Dakota starting with Nelson County Sheriff’s Department. Then he was with Hazen Police Department for three years followed by Beulah Police Department for two years. These past 15 years he has been with Mercer County Sheriff’s Department. During his time with Mercer County Sheriff’s Department Paul was lucky enough to be partnered with Goliath, his K9 for seven years. Deputy Martin’s retired K9 Goliath died in 2019. Deputy Martin was an 18-year veteran of the sheriff’s office.Paul is survived by his wife Melinda A.K.A Mindy (Hietala) Martin; his children; Sara Beth Harr, Jason Martin and Amanda Martin. Memorials be made to Wreaths Across America, Turtle River State Park or Sakakawea State Park.
Ian Cramer made his first court appearance on 10/8/23 on manslaughter and other charges after he allegedly fled from authorities in a stolen family vehicle. Ian Cramer, of Bismarck, was charged Thursday with multiple felony counts, including manslaughter, fleeing a police officer and reckless endangerment. Cramer did not enter a plea on 10/8/23, which will happen at a later hearing. He appeared in court remotely via videoconference from county jail and District Judge Bobbi Weiler set a $500,000 cash bond, and also ordered a mental health evaluation. Plans to file additional drug-related charges against Cramer are pending for possession of methamphetamine, cocaine and baggies of paraphernalia. In 2013, Ian Cramer was charged with misdemeanor simple assault for allegedly injuring his brother’s head; he pleaded guilty. His record also includes several traffic citations during this and last year, some as recent as the day before the crash, for driving under suspension.
