The housebreaking trial for Minnesota state Sen. Nicole Mitchell bought underway Tuesday because the jury seen police physique cam footage — made public for the primary time — of her arrest.
Mitchell was charged with two felony housebreaking counts after officers responding to a 911 name discovered her within the basement of her stepmother’s house in Detroit Lakes round 5 a.m. on April 22, 2024, dressed head to toe in black. She had damaged in, she stated, to get a few of her dad’s private objects. She pleaded not responsible in August 2024.
A jury of 10 males and 5 girls, together with three alternates, was seated Monday. On Tuesday, the prosecution and protection laid out related variations of the pre-dawn occasions that led to the senator’s arrest, however diverged when it got here to interpretation.
Becker County Legal professional Brian McDonald argued in his opening assertion that the trial was solely about whether or not Mitchell had damaged into the house, and that she had been “caught red-handed.” He stated he understood her quandary, “but grief and frustration don’t justify burglary.”
Protection legal professional Bruce Ringstrom Jr., nonetheless, contended Mitchell had entered by means of the basement as a result of Carol Mitchell had taken to barricading the doorways.
“Nicole Mitchell’s intent was to check on her stepmother,” he informed the court docket, saying his shopper hadn’t fled and had cooperated with police. “A burglar runs. A concerned child stays.”
The arresting officers took the stand, as did Carole Mitchell, who typically appeared confused concerning the sequence of occasions, MPR famous. She testified that she felt “extremely violated” after the break-in, The Minnesota Star Tribune reported.
Police testified that Carol Mitchell had recounted waking as much as discover an intruder on the ground by her mattress and grabbed a hammer for cover, then known as police. The intruder fled to the basement as police arrived.
The 30-minute video confirmed officers discovered Mitchell within the house’s basement, standing meekly in a toilet, arms up and eyes lowered. She whispered “Ok,” and complied when an officer informed her to get on the bottom.
As she was being cuffed, she known as out, “Carol? It’s Nicole.”
“It’s Nicole?” the incredulous house owner requested.
“I was just trying to get a couple of my dad’s things because you wouldn’t talk to me anymore,” Mitchell stated.
“She’s stealing documents out of my house. She’s my stepdaughter,” Carol Mitchell stated, amid the youthful Mitchell’s denials.
Mitchell stated her stepmother has “serious Alzheimer’s” and had minimize off the household.
“She’s trying to get money,” Carol Mitchell stated.
“Obviously, I’m not good at this,” Nicole Mitchell informed police, adamant she had by no means stolen something, however admitting, “I know — I did something bad.”
Outdoors on the automotive, an officer learn her Miranda rights and requested if she needed to speak.
“After the funeral, my family tried to help her,” Mitchell defined. “She thinks they stole from her, and they were just trying to get her affairs in order. She has progressively cut off the family.”
Carol Mitchell had promised them a few of his ashes so they might bury him close to different household, however later reneged. They’d final spoken a month earlier, after combating “over the ashes situation,” Mitchell informed police. “It’s just gotten progressively worse.”
She appeared shocked to study she’d be charged with housebreaking.
“Even if I didn’t take anything?” she requested. The officer stated sure, since she had damaged in with intent.
“I just wanted to get a couple of my dad’s mementos, and that’s all,” Mitchell stated. “A couple of pictures, and maybe one of his shirts.”
“I understand your situation but you still can’t — there are other ways to try to go through it,” the cop replied.
As they have been about to drag away, the primary officer on scene walked up and stated, “She’s a state senator.”
