Minnesota state senator broke into stepmom’s house to retrieve dad’s ashes: probable cause statement

24 April 2024

On Tuesday, April 23, USA Today and CBS News reported that the previous day, Democratic Minnesota State Sen. Nicole Mitchell had been arrested on suspicion of burglary by police in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota and booked into the Becker County Jail.

According to USA Today, Detroit Lakes Police Chief Steve Todd said Mitchell was charged with first-degree burglary.

Now, CNN's Brammhi Balarajan is reporting that Mitchell was inside the home "to retrieve sentimental items related to her late father, including his ashes, according to a probable cause statement obtained by CNN."

Balarajan reports that the probable cause statement said Mitchell was wearing black clothes and a black hat when she was arrested and told her stepmother, "I was just trying to get a couple of my dad's things because you wouldn't talk to me anymore."

Mitchell, according to the document, told the police officers, "Clearly, I’m not good at this. I know I did something bad."

Balarajan explains, "Mitchell was released without bond on the condition she not have contact with her stepmother, among other restrictions, her attorney, Bruce Ringstrom Jr., told CNN. A pretrial hearing in the case is scheduled for June 10, according to Minnesota court records."

In a Facebook post on April 23, the Democratic Minnesota state senator said she was dealing with a relative suffering from Alzheimer's.

Mitchell wrote, "Like so many families, mine is dealing with the pain of watching a loved one decline due to Alzheimer's and associated paranoia. Over the weekend, I learned of medical information which caused me grave concern and prompted me to check on that family member."

Mitchell continued, "I entered a home I have come and gone from countless times in the past 20 years, where my son even once had his own room. Unfortunately, I startled this close relative, exacerbating paranoia, and I was accused of stealing, which I absolutely deny."

After Mitchell was arrested, CBS News' Stephen Swanson reported, "Officers were called at about 4:45 a.m. to a residence off Granger Road and Long Avenue after the homeowner called 911 to report a burglary in progress. Police say the suspect, 49-year-old Sen. Nicole Mitchell, DFL-Woodbury, was found inside and was arrested on suspicion of first-degree burglary."

USA Today's Anthony Robledo, on April 23, reported, "Mitchell told officers who found her in the home that she was picking up her late father's ashes as well as pictures, a flannel shirt and other sentimental items, according to the criminal complaint. She was reportedly wearing all black clothing and a black hat."

Read CNN's full report at this link.

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