Body camera footage capturing the arrest of Minnesota State Sen. Nicole Mitchell (D-Woodbury) during an alleged burglary was released this week, coinciding with the opening of her felony trial. Mitchell stands accused of unlawfully entering her stepmother’s home in April 2024 to retrieve belongings and ashes of her deceased father.
Mitchell’s trial began Monday in Becker County District Court. Prosecutors and defense attorneys offered sharply contrasting narratives. County Attorney Brian McDonald told the jury that the case would rely heavily on Mitchell’s own admissions and the evidence recorded on body cameras. “This case will be about what the defendant did, what she admitted to, and what you will see and hear with your own eyes and ears,” McDonald said, according to MPR News.
The arrest footage shows officers entering the home after a 911 call from Mitchell’s stepmother, Carol, who did not recognize the intruder and initially described the individual as male. Officers ordered Mitchell, dressed in black clothing and a beanie, to the ground. During the arrest, Mitchell can be heard saying, “I was just trying to get a couple of my dad’s things because you wouldn’t talk to me anymore.” She later admitted, “I know I did a bad thing,” while being read her Miranda rights.
Mitchell’s defense attorney, Bruce Ringstrom Jr., argued that the lawmaker was acting out of concern for Carol, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, and was not attempting theft. He claimed Mitchell entered through the basement because the doors were barricaded, suggesting her actions were the result of a complex and strained family dynamic, not criminal intent. “Nobody should be convicted of burglary because what they did makes you feel icky,” Ringstrom said.
Following the incident, Mitchell posted on Facebook that she had long been familiar with the home and had stayed there many times over the past two decades. She described the situation as a misunderstanding exacerbated by Carol’s medical condition. “Unfortunately, I startled this close relative, exacerbating paranoia, and I was accused of stealing, which I absolutely deny,” she wrote.
Despite public backlash and calls for resignation from state Republicans, Mitchell has not stepped down. Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson issued a firm statement after her arrest, calling the behavior “unbecoming of a member of the Legislature” and demanding her immediate resignation.
An ethics complaint has also been filed with the state Senate. The legal proceedings are expected to scrutinize not only Mitchell’s actions but also her claims that her intentions were misinterpreted.
Carol, Mitchell’s stepmother, told law enforcement that she had already sent some of her husband’s ashes to Mitchell. The defense disputes the accuracy of that statement.
The case continues this week, with testimony expected from responding officers, family members, and forensic experts.
