HAZEN, N.D. (KFGO) – A central North Dakota sheriff’s deputy was killed while attempting to stop a man who was fleeing from law enforcement Wednesday night.
A spokesman for the Bismarck Police Department said officers were called to Sanford around 4:30 p.m. on a report of damage to an overhead door of the ambulance bay. When they arrived, they learned that 42-year-old Ian Cramer of Bismarck was brought there by his mother for mental health issues.
When they parked in the ambulance bay, Cramer got into the driver’s seat and allegedly rammed the doors of the bay before fleeing.
According to the Highway Patrol, deputies in Mercer County found the vehicle and Cramer in Hazen which is about 75 miles northwest of Bismarck. As officers approached, Cramer fled and a pursuit began.
During the pursuit, a Mercer County deputy parked his patrol vehicle on an approach with its emergency lights on so he could set up spike strips to stop the stolen vehicle.
While the deputy was behind the patrol vehicle, the vehicle Cramer was driving veered and crashed head-on into it. The impact pushed the vehicle into the deputy, killing him.
Cramer, the son of Sen. Kevin Cramer, was arrested and taken to the hospital in Hazen before being booked into jail.
The crash is under investigation.
Sen. Cramer issued the following statement regarding the incident:
“Earlier this evening, our 42-year-old son Ian was involved in a police chase which resulted in an accident that killed an officer. Ian suffers from serious mental disorders which manifest in severe paranoia and hallucinations. Kris was with Ian when he insisted on going to his brother Ike. Ike died in 2018. Kris took Ian to the Sanford Health emergency room in Bismarck. When she got out of our vehicle, Ian jumped into the driver’s seat and fled. Our daughter was able to track the car through Kris’ cell phone and lead officers to him in Mercer County, ND. We don’t have more details right now but will work with authorities to properly inform the public.
“I will take the first flight I can to be with our family as we grieve what has happened. We grieve especially for the family of the hero who tried to help Ian, and we pray for our gracious God to show up as He always does in tragedy. We ask the public for prayers for the lost officer’s family and colleagues who serve us every day and are grateful for all they do for us.
“We also ask God for healing for Ian. We love him and hurt deeply.”
Kevin Cramer was elected to the Senate in 2018 after serving three terms in the House. In addition to Ian and Ike, Cramer and his wife have one other son, two daughters and six grandchildren, according to a biography on Cramer’s Senate web page.
