Wed, Dec 6th, 2023 - 11:16pm
December 07, 2023 - 11:18am | By Chris Larson
(Mercer County, ND) – The North Dakota Highway Patrol has identified the Mercer County Deputy killed as a result of a pursuit Wednesday night west of Hazen.
According to the Highway Patrol, 53-year-old Paul Martin, of Beulah, was killed when 42-year-old Ian Cramer, of Bismarck, was driving a 2017 Black Chevy Tahoe that was reported stolen from Bismarck. The Mercer County Sheriff’s Office located Cramer and the vehicle in Hazen. When law enforcement approached Cramer, he fled and the pursuit ensued.
During the pursuit, the vehicle Cramer was driving veered and crashed head-on into an unoccupied Mercer County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle which was parked on a roadside approach with its emergency lights on.
Martin was standing behind the patrol vehicle when it was struck. The impact of the crash pushed the patrol vehicle into the deputy, killing him. The Highway Patrol says the deputy was preparing to deploy a tire deflation device in an attempt to end the pursuit.
Bismarck Police report officers were called to Sanford Emergency Room yesterday around 4:30 p.m. regarding damage to an overhead door of the ambulance bay at the Sanford Emergency Department. Once there, officers were informed that Cramer was brought there by his mother due to exhibiting mental health issues. When they parked in the ambulance bay, he got into the driver’s seat and allegedly rammed the doors of the bay and fled the scene.
Bismarck Police Department started an investigation into the alleged offenses of Theft of a Motor Vehicle and Criminal Mischief. Bismarck Police continue their investigation into the incident and will be forwarding reports and documents to the Burleigh County States Attorney to charge Cramer with crimes that occurred in Bismarck.
No charges have been filed against Cramer in Mercer County in the case as of the time of this reporting.
