Minnesota Lawmaker Hit With Burglary Allegations

(USNewsBreak.com) – Voters expect lawmakers to adhere to high standards for the people they represent. However, they sometimes find themselves on the wrong side of the law. Police recently arrested a Democratic state senator and charged her with burglary.

On Monday, April 22, authorities took Minnesota State Senator Nicole Mitchell into custody. According to the complaint, the homeowner called police to a home in Detroit Lakes around 4:45 a.m. The complainant, who authorities later revealed to be Mitchell’s stepmother, called the police about someone breaking into her home. While searching the residence, officers found the senator in the basement, dressed in black. They also discovered a black backpack, which contained two laptops, Mitchell’s identification, tupperware, and a cell phone.

When police read Mitchell her Miranda Rights, she noted that her father had recently passed away, and she wanted some of his items, including pictures, his ashes, a flannel shirt, and other items that held sentimental value. She said her stepmother had ceased contact with the family after her dad’s death. Authorities have charged her with first-degree burglary, a felony. She faces up to six months in a workhouse or 20 years in prison. A judge could also fine her for as much as $35,000.

In a statement on Facebook, Mitchell said that a family member’s health prompted her to check on the individual after “learn[ing] of medical information which caused [her] grave concern.” She noted that she had a key to the residence and had been visiting for the past 20 years. However, she stated that she startled her “close relative, exacerbating paranoia,” and the family member subsequently “accused [her] of stealing,” a charge she denies.

Mitchell’s arrest has led to some members of the state legislature calling for her resignation. Minnesota Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson (R) issued a statement saying he “understand[s] the difficult situation” she finds herself in but called her actions “disturbing” and “unbecoming of a member of the Legislature.” According to Mitchell’s attorney, Bruce Ringstrom, Sr., she has no intention of stepping down.