Detroit Lakes, Minn. — A Minnesota state senator is now facing charges in connection with a burglary at a Detroit Lakes home earlier this week.
On Tuesday, the Becker County Attorney's Office charged 49-year-old Sen. Nicole Mitchell, DFL-Woodbury, was charged with first-degree robbery.
According to police, officers were called to a residence at Granger Road and Long Avenue around 4:45 a.m. Monday after the homeowner called 911 to report a burglary in progress.
Police say Mitchell was found inside. He was arrested and booked into the Becker County Jail.
The charges allege that Mitchell burglarized his stepfather's home to get his dead father's belongings
According to the criminal complaint, Mitchell's stepfather is accused of burglarizing the home.
The stepmother called the police to report that someone had broken into her home. When officers arrived, the suspect — later identified as Mitchell — ran into the basement.
Mitchell was wearing black clothing and a black hat when officers found him in the basement, according to the complaint. They found a flashlight with a sock and a black backpack nearby. The bag contained two laptops, a cell phone, Tupperware and identification documents for Mitchell.
Investigators said Mitchell told them his father had recently died and that his stepfather would not speak to Mitchell or other family members.
“I was trying to get a couple of things from my dad because you won't talk to me anymore,” Mitchell said while arresting his stepson, according to the complaint.
Items searched by Mitchell included “pictures, a flannel shirt, ashes and other items of sentimental value,” the complaint states.
Mitchell reportedly gave police the same motive, adding that he “just broke into the house.”
“Obviously I wasn't good at it,” he said, according to investigators, “and I knew I did something bad.”
Mitchell entered the home through a basement window, investigators said.
Police questioned Mitchell about one of the laptops found in her bag, which, when turned on, had her stepfather's name on it. The stepmother says she gave it to her, to which Siti denies.
Mitchell is scheduled to appear in court at 11 a.m. Tuesday. She is in custody.
Legislators speak, call consequences
Mitchell is currently serving his first term as a state senator. A spokesperson for the Senate TFL caucus said in a statement Monday that they were “aware of the situation” but would not comment.
Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks, said in a statement that he was “shocked” by the news regarding his colleague.
“The public expects legislators to hold themselves to a high standard of conduct. As information comes out, we expect that there will be consequences for his role in court and in the Legislature,” Johnson said.
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Mitchell, a television meteorologist and commander of the Air National Guard, was elected in 2022 and is in the midst of his first term.
