(RepublicanPress.org) – On December 8, Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) released a statement announcing that his son, Ian Cramer, was involved in a police chase that resulted in the death of a deputy sheriff when he crashed into the officer’s parked squad car. Republican Press reported at the time that the lawmaker’s son was facing manslaughter charges. However, recent reports indicated that prosecutors recently hit the Republican senator’s son with homicide charges.
On December 14, the New York Post reported that North Dakota District Court Judge Bobbi Weiler approved the Mercer County prosecutors’ request to elevate the manslaughter charge to homicide while fleeing a peace officer, a class-a felony. A review of court records shows Cramer also faces three Class-A felonies, four misdemeanors, and one criminal infraction.
The charges include:
- Fleeing a peace officer/vehicular fleeing from a felony – felony;
- Preventing Arrest — felony;
- Reckless endangerment/extreme indifference with a dangerous weapon – felony;
- Methamphetamine possession – misdemeanor;
- Cocaine possession – misdemeanor;
- Unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia – misdemeanor;
- Driving under suspension – misdemeanor; and
- Marijuana possession, less than half an ounce – infraction.
Cramer made his initial appearance before the court on the new charges via Zoom on December 18.
Sen. Kevin Cramer’s son now facing homicide charge in car chase that resulted in deputy’s death https://t.co/TX7ruQPgnG pic.twitter.com/0bOgPo9Wsv
— New York Post (@nypost) December 15, 2023
Cramer’s employment status remains unclear, but the court approved the assignment of a public defender on December 11. The following day, prosecutors filed a motion to amend the initial criminal information and a supplemental affidavit of probable cause to include the elevated charge of homicide. They also added the drug possession charges after investigators found the illegal substances in a backpack located in the 2017 Chevy Tahoe Cramer reportedly stole from his mother shortly before leading law enforcement officers on the fatal high-speed chase on December 6.
Cramer stole the truck shortly after his mother took him to a local hospital after he told her he wanted to join his brother, Isaac, who died in 2018. Reportedly, he slid into the driver’s seat and took off in the vehicle after his mother exited the Tahoe.
Law enforcement officials chased him at speeds exceeding 100 mph for several minutes. He continued driving after flattening two tires after running over a spike strip. He eventually crashed while swerving to avoid another set of spikes, killing the 53-year-old deputy sheriff.
Cramer faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment if convicted on the homicide charge. He remains free on a $500,000 cash bond.
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