Jan 2024. Blues Vol 40 No. 1

AROUND THE COUNTRY
MERCER COUNTY, ND.
Mercer County Deputy Paul Martin was struck and
killed while attempting to deploy stop sticks to a fleeing
suspect, who was a US Senator’s son.
by Justin Betti & Debra Worley
MERCER COUNTY, N.D. (KVLY/
KFYR/Gray News) - A deputy in
North Dakota was killed during
the pursuit of a stolen vehicle
Wednesday.
The North Dakota Highway says
53-year-old Paul Martin was the
deputy killed during the pursuit.
He was an 18-year veteran with
the Mercer County Sheriff’s office
and is survived by his wife and
three children.
“Our entire community has
suffered the tragic loss of Deputy
Paul Martin. He is our beloved
brother in law enforcement,
a husband, father, and grandpa.
Our wound is raw, and our
hearts are broken,” the sheriff’s
office wrote in a post on Facebook.
“We will put one foot
in front of the other and move
forward slowly, honoring all the
wishes humanly possible of his
wife and family.”
The Bismarck Police Department
received reports of a
stolen SUV being driven by Ian
Cramer of Bismarck. Sen. Kevin
Cramer has since confirmed that
is his son.
The Mercer County Sheriff’s
Office found Cramer and the stolen
SUV, but he drove off when
authorities approached, and a
pursuit began.
According to Highway Patrol,
Cramer veered the SUV during
the pursuit and crashed headon
into an unoccupied Mercer
County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle
that was parked on the side
of the road with its emergency
lights on.
Highway Patrol said Martin
was standing behind the patrol
vehicle when it was hit, and the
impact of the crash pushed the
DEPUTY PAUL MARTIN
patrol vehicle into the deputy,
killing him.
At the time, Martin was preparing
to deploy stop sticks to try
to end the pursuit. Cramer was
taken into custody, taken to the
hospital for treatment, and then
taken to the Mercer County Jail.
This crash remains under investigation
by the North Dakota
Highway Patrol, and charges are
pending.
32 The Blues - January ‘24