Judge wants to know if man accused of killing North Dakota deputy is criminally responsible

STANTON, N.D. — A judge has ordered a man accused of killing a North Dakota sheriff’s deputy to undergo a mental health examination to determine if he is criminally responsible.

Ian Cramer, 42, faces more than a dozen charges, including homicide, for a December crime spree. It ended when he allegedly killed Mercer County Deputy Paul Martin. Ian Cramer is the son of North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer.

Investigators said Ian Cramer slammed into a squad car that was then pushed into Martin, who was outside of the vehicle setting up spike strips to try and stop the vehicle Cramer was driving.

The judge wants Cramer to undergo an exam at the North Dakota State Hospital to determine if his conduct that day was a result of a loss or serious distortion of his capacity to recognize reality.

The crime spree allegedly started when Cramer stole his mother’s car after she drove him to the emergency room in Bismarck due to mental health concerns.

Matt Henson is an Emmy award-winning reporter/photographer/editor for WDAY. Prior to joining WDAY in 2019, Matt was the main anchor at WDAZ in Grand Forks for four years.