Son of North Dakota U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer kills deputy during vehicle pursuit

December 7, 2023

HAZEN, N.D.–A central North Dakota sheriff’s deputy was killed while attempting to stop a man who was fleeing from law enforcement Wednesday night.

According to the Highway Patrol, Bismarck Police received a report of a vehicle stolen from Bismarck. Deputies in Mercer County found the vehicle and driver, 42-year-old Ian Cramer of Bismarck, in Hazen about 75 miles northwest of Bismarck.

As officers approached Cramer, he 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.

According to the Highway Patrol, 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 U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer, was arrested and taken to the hospital in Hazen before being booked into jail.

Kevin Cramer said his son suffers from serious mental disorders which manifest in severe paranoia and hallucinations.