North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer's son has been charged with manslaughter and fleeing an officer following a fatal crash that resulted in the death of a sheriff deputy.
The suspect, identified as Ian Cramer, was involved in a police chase on Wednesday, as confirmed by both the senator and the North Dakota Highway Patrol. The lawmaker said his 42-year-old son suffers from mental health issues and had wanted to visit his deceased brother Ike while he was with his mother Kris.
Senator's Son Charged With Manslaughter
Cramer said that Ian had serious mental disorders that manifested in severe paranoia and hallucinations. He added that his wife was with their son when the latter insisted on going to his brother, who died in 2018.
The senator continued to say that his wife took their son to the Sanford Health emergency room in Bismarck. When she got out of their vehicle, Ian allegedly jumped into the driver's seat and fled, as per UPI.
Cramer added that his daughter assisted authorities in locating his son after the fatal car crash. He noted that she was able to track down her brother through Kris' cellphone and lead officers to him in Mercer County, ND.
The ND Highway Patrol said in a news release that troopers pursued the vehicle that Ian was driving until it veered and crashed into a law enforcement vehicle. In a Wednesday statement, officials said that a Mercer County deputy was standing outside and behind the patrol vehicle when it was struck.
The Highway Patrol added that Ian was "taken to Sakakawea Medical Center in Hazen and later brought to Mercer County Jail in Stanton. Authorities noted that charges against the suspect are still pending.
The deceased sheriff's deputy was not identified but was noted to have deployed a tire deflation device to end the police pursuit. Cramer later noted that he would be flying to be with his family as they grieve for the tragic loss of life, according to The Hill.
Reckless Driving Resulting in Fatal Crash
Ian is set to appear in court on Friday on multiple felony counts including manslaughter, fleeing a police officer, and reckless endangerment. Court records showed no attorney for the defendant and Cramer declined an interview after the charges were filed against his son.
The senator's son was charged in a separate incident in 2013 with misdemeanor simple assault for supposedly injuring his brother's head, a case that he pleaded guilty to. His record also includes a 2010 citation for driving under the influence in Arizona and several traffic citations during this year and the last. It includes one as recent as the day before the fatal crash.
Later on, the deceased sheriff's deputy was identified as Paul Martin who was an 18-year veteran of the sheriff's office. He was said to have been married and was the father of three children.
Mercer County Sheriff Terry Ternes posted on the sheriff's office's Facebook page and said that Martin, "is our beloved brother in law enforcement, a husband, father, and grandpa." It added that the wound inflicted by the recent tragedy was raw, said the Associated Press.
