A Democrat state senator in Minnesota, charged with first-degree burglary, asserted on Tuesday that the incident at her stepmother’s house resulted from a misunderstanding due to dementia and its associated paranoia.
Resist The Mainstream reported that Nicole Mitchell was arrested Monday, and had notably been vocal about advocating for “safer communities” in her state, just days before her arrest.
BREAKING: Minnesota State Senator Nicole Mitchell (D) was just arrested for 1st-degree burglary.
This comes a few days after she publicly advocated for building "safer communities."
You just can't make this stuff up 🤣 pic.twitter.com/nccInYfGeg
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) April 22, 2024
Fox News reports Mitchell was arrested at a residence on Granger Road in Detroit Lakes after police responded to a homeowner’s 911 call around 4:45 a.m.
Mitchell was discovered dressed in black clothing and a black hat, and admitted to entering through a basement window, according to a criminal complaint.
She later denied the burglary allegation in a Facebook post, according to the outlet, stating that she went to check on “a loved one” with Alzheimer’s after learning medical information that deeply concerned her.
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.”
“Unfortunately, I startled this close relative, exacerbating paranoia, and I was accused of stealing, which I absolutely deny,” she added.
The state senator dubbed the event “a true tragedy,” adding that she hopes it can remain a private matter.
Mitchell stated that she entered the home but did not offer an explanation for why she entered without permission in the middle of the night.
The criminal complaint states Mitchell allegedly entered through a window and informed investigators that she was attempting to retrieve her late father’s ashes, photos, a flannel shirt, and other sentimental items.
It also indicated that one of the laptops discovered in Mitchell’s black backpack, which was being used to prop open a window, belonged to her stepmother.
“I was just trying to get a couple of my dad’s things because you wouldn’t talk to me anymore,” Mitchell allegedly said to her stepmother as she was arrested.
The stepmother informed officers that she did not give the laptop to Mitchell.
Mitchell notably shared a photo on her X account on April 16, posing alongside members of Moms Demand Action, a grassroots organization dedicated to ending gun violence in the United States.
She wrote: “Meaningful conversation today with [MDA] community members advocating for common sense gun reform & safer communities at [the Minnesota Legislature] –as well as providing Minnesotans the mental health services they need to #EndGunViolence in our neighborhoods.”
Meaningful conversation today with @MomsDemand community members advocating for common sense gun reform & safer communities at #mnleg–as well as providing Minnesotans the mental health services they need to #EndGunViolence in our neighborhoods pic.twitter.com/QencA4RE1J
— Senator Nicole Mitchell (@Sen_NMitchell) April 16, 2024
Mitchell had a career as a television and radio meteorologist and also served as a commander in the Air National Guard before her tenure in the state legislature.
Users on X flocked to the platform to mock Mitchell, with one writing, “No wonder Senator Nicole Mitchell hates guns. She doesn’t want to be surprised by one when she breaks into a home.”
No wonder Senator Nicole Mitchell hates guns. She doesn’t want to be surprised by one when she breaks into a home.🤭
“Dispatchers received a 911 call at 4:45 a.m. from a homeowner about “an active burglary in process at her residence,” Todd said in an interview. Officers… https://t.co/fOch06I6Au
— Bad Kitty Unleashed 🦁 (@pepesgrandma) April 23, 2024
Others shared the story along with captions that said “you can’t make this stuff up” and “do I say, not as I do,” emphasizing the hypocrisy surrounding past statements from Mitchell and the actions leading up to her arrest.
“Guess she missed her own memo?” wrote The Conservative Brief on X.
LOL!! Do As I Say, Not As I Do!
Minnesota Democrat State Senator Nicole Mitchell, just after advocating for "safer communities", gets arrested and charged with first-degree burglary.
Guess she missed her own memo?#NicoleMitchell #Minnesota #Burglary pic.twitter.com/Lo4ltyZdW9
— Conservative Brief (@ConservBrief) April 22, 2024
