The footage from a police bodycam that captures the arrest of a Minnesota state senator suspected of breaking into her stepmother’s residence was presented during her trial on Wednesday.
Senator Nicole Mitchell has entered a plea of not guilty to charges of felony first-degree burglary and possession of tools for burglary or theft, following the alleged incident around 4:45 a.m. on April 22, 2024.
Elected in 2022 as a member of the state’s Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, Mitchell claims she visited the Detroit Lakes home of her stepmother, Carol Mitchell, who she says has Alzheimer’s, in order to collect some belongings of her deceased father.
Minnesota State Sen. Nicole Mitchell is seen on video sitting in a police vehicle. (Detroit Lakes Police Department)
The criminal complaint states that Mitchell explained to police that her father had just died, and she wanted sentimental items her stepmother refused to give to her, Fox Minneapolis reported.
Mitchell said those include her father’s ashes, pictures, clothes and other sentimental items. Police found Mitchell in the home’s basement dressed in all black.
Officers say they also found a flashlight covered with a black sock on Mitchell. Officers searched for a black backpack that was stuck in a window and found two laptops, a cellphone, a driver’s license, Senate identification and Tupperware products, according to the complaint.
In the footage, Mitchell is seen lying on her stomach inside the home and being placed in handcuffs.
“I was just trying to get some of my dad’s things because she wouldn’t talk to me anymore,” she said.
Minnesota State Senator Nicole Mitchell is accused of breaking into her stepmother’s home in April 2024. (Detroit Lakes Police Department)
During the trial, prosecutors said Nicole Mitchell parked down the road from the home in a well-planned act. Defense attorneys have said that Mitchell was a concerned stepdaughter trying to help a loved one.
During her testimony, Carol Mitchell said she felt “extremely violated” following the alleged burglary.
