Ian Cramer, the 43-year-old son of North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer, has been sentenced to 28 years in prison for a tragic car chase that led to the death of Mercer County Deputy Paul Martin. The high-speed chase began when Ian fled from a hospital in Bismarck and ended in Hazen, North Dakota, with a devastating head-on crash.
The events unfolded on December 6, 2023, when Ian, battling mental health issues and under the influence of methamphetamine and bath salts, made troubling statements to his mother. Concerned for his safety, she took him to a hospital in Bismarck. But things took a shocking turn when Ian jumped into the driver’s seat of her Chevrolet Tahoe and crashed through the ambulance bay’s closed garage door.
What followed was a chaotic 70-mile chase across Burleigh and Mercer Counties. Ian reached speeds of up to 100 mph as police pursued him. The chase ended in Hazen when Ian swerved to avoid spike strips and crashed directly into Deputy Martin’s patrol car, killing the deputy.
In court, Ian expressed remorse, calling the incident an accident driven by his struggles with drug use and mental health. “I had no intention to do any of this,” he said to Deputy Martin’s grieving family. “I just hope that someday they can forgive me.” Ian also emphasized his need for further treatment, stating, “I think the best thing for me is to go to a hospital and just get more help.”
The courtroom was filled with emotional testimony, including from Ian’s mother, Kris Cramer, who tearfully admitted, “I really do feel responsible for what happened.” Prosecutors and defense attorneys pointed to Ian’s long history of drug use and its damaging effects on his mental health. Mercer County State’s Attorney Todd Schwarz highlighted how Ian’s choices led to a “mentally ill state,” while Senator Kevin Cramer described his son’s struggles with severe paranoia and hallucinations, which had plagued him for years.
Judge Bobbi Weiler sentenced Ian to 38 years in prison, suspending 10 years of the sentence, and added three years of probation. However, due to state prison policies and the terms of Ian’s plea deal, it’s likely he will serve only a fraction of the 28 years before being eligible for parole.
During the sentencing, Judge Weiler acknowledged the role of the Department of Corrections in determining how much time Ian will actually serve, saying, “These are not mandatory minimums, which means you’re probably going to serve a small portion of that 28 years and be out on parole. That’ll give you an opportunity to have a second chance that Deputy Martin does not have, nor does his family.”
Senator Cramer expressed his disappointment with how mental health considerations were treated during his son’s sentencing, but he also acknowledged the weight of Ian’s decisions. “Choices that go back many years,” he said.
This devastating incident has left the community mourning the loss of Deputy Martin while raising questions about the role of mental health and addiction in the justice system.
