(BrightPress.org) – Ian Matthew Cramer, 42, was charged with manslaughter, driving with a suspended license, preventing arrest, and fleeing the police for his part in an automobile accident that left one North Dakota sheriff’s deputy dead. Cramer’s father is Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer, representing North Dakota in the Senate.
Sen. Cramer published a statement shortly following his son’s arrest wherein he said that his son has severe mental illness which causes him to suffer hallucinations and paranoia. Sen. Cramer’s statement said he intended to fly back to North Dakota. Senator Cramer further indicated that they were grieving for the loss of the deputy who had attempted to aid his son during his mental health crisis. He asked the public to pray for the family and colleagues of the fallen deputy, Paul Martin.
Police responded to a report of a stolen vehicle on the evening of December 6th. When they caught up with Cramer he drove off, which triggered a high-speed chase. Ian Cramer’s initial court appearance indicated numerous drugs were found in the vehicle, and he has a warrant out for his arrest in Texas and a prior conviction in 2008 in Montana.
Martin, 53, was setting up a tire deflation device on the road when Cramer veered into the opposing lane and smashed into Martin’s parked police vehicle. That collision caused the vehicle to hit Martin, killing him.
Ian Cramer’s siblings were attempting to get him to the hospital to Sanford Health ER in Bismarck, as they were exiting the car, Cramer jumped back into the driver’s seat and drove away. They used a cell phone that was left behind in the car to track his position and inform the police.
Ian Cramer pleaded guilty to a simple assault charge in 2013 for hitting his brother in the head. He received a 10-day suspended jail term, a year on probation, and paid a $150 fine. He also pleaded guilty to filing a false report to police as well as possession of a controlled substance that same year and paid a $300 fine.
Martin was a father of three children and a loving husband, he served with the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department for 18 years at the time of his death.
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