Democratic Minnesota state Sen. Nicole Mitchell’s stepmother reported a home break-in in the early hours of the morning and said she found an intruder next to her bed armed with a steak knife. The intruder ran downstairs to the basement, prompting the stepmother to call 911. When police arrived, they found Mitchell at the home, dressed in all black with a flashlight covered in a black sock. She was charged with first-degree burglary for the incident.
During the 911 call, the stepmother described the intruder as male and indicated that she did not get a good look at them as it was dark. She mentioned grabbing a steak knife for protection but never suggested she knew who the intruder was. Mitchell denied the burglary allegation in a Facebook post, claiming she was checking on a loved one with Alzheimer’s after receiving concerning medical information. The dispatcher asked if the stepmother could hear someone breaking a window in the basement, but she did not hear anything.
Responding officers found that a backpack belonging to Mitchell was propping open a basement window. Inside the backpack was a laptop belonging to the stepmother, who stated she did not give it to Mitchell. Mitchell admitted to entering through a window to retrieve sentimental items belonging to her late father, including his ashes, photos, and a flannel shirt. She claimed her stepmother had refused to speak to her after her father’s death and would not give her the items.
Despite acknowledging that she did something wrong, Mitchell denied stealing anything during the incident. She expressed regret for frightening her relative and escalating her paranoia. Since 2022, Mitchell has represented District 47 in the Minnesota state Senate and previously worked as a meteorologist for KSTP-TV and Minnesota Public Radio. She also holds the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard.
In her Facebook post, Mitchell did not provide a clear explanation as to why she entered the home through a window in the early morning. She acknowledged that her actions were seen as negative and impacted her family member’s sense of security. The incident has led to Mitchell facing legal consequences, including the first-degree burglary charge. It remains to be seen how this situation will affect Mitchell’s political career and public image in the future.
