Mercer County Deputy Paul Martin with his K-9 partner

BISMARCK, N.D. (NDHP) – The Bismarck Police Department received the report of a stolen vehicle from Bismarck on Wednesday, December 6th.

The stolen vehicle was a 2017 Black Chevy Tahoe and was being driven by Ian Cramer of Bismarck. The Mercer County Sheriff’s Office located Cramer and the 2017 Black Chevy Tahoe in Hazen. When law enforcement approached Cramer, he fled in the vehicle and a 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 that was parked on a roadside approach. The Sheriff’s Office vehicle was displaying its emergency lights at the time.

A Mercer County Deputy was standing outside and behind the patrol vehicle when it was struck. The impact of the crash pushed the patrol vehicle into the deputy, killing him. At the time the deputy was preparing to deploy a tire deflation device in attempt to end the pursuit. Cramer was taken into custody, transported to the Sakakawea Medical Center in Hazen, and
then taken to the McLean County Detention Center in Washburn.

The Mercer County Deputy killed in the incident has been identified as 53-year-old Paul Martin of Beulah. Deputy Martin was an 18-year veteran with the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office and is survived by his wife and three children. This incident occurred five miles west of Hazen on Highway 200 at 5:35 pm central time on December 6, 2023.

This crash remains under investigation by the North Dakota Highway Patrol and charges are pending.