Updated by Austin Erickson
DETROIT LAKES, Minn. – A woman whose job it is to write Minnesota’s laws is accused of breaking them.
DFL State Senator Nicole Mitchell of Woodbury is charged with burglarizing her stepmother’s Detroit Lakes home in April 2024. She said on police bodycam video she broke a window with a crowbar to get her late father’s items.
“The government knew from the beginning that Nicole went there to check on Carol,” Defense Attorney Bruce Ringstrom, Junior argued in opening statements.
He didn’t elaborate or say if that was federal, state or local government.
The jury watched bodycam video from Detroit Lakes Police Officer Joseph Sternhagen who responded to the home. On video while being detained, Carol, who lawyers on both sides say has Alzheimer’s Disease, sounded surprised when she found out it was Nicole and accused her of stealing documents and money.
“Clearly, I’m not good at this. I’m a military commander for God’s sake,” Nicole said to police while in handcuffs, dressed in all black, but without shoes and carrying a flashlight with a black sock on it.
Nicole also talked about Carol’s Alzheimer’s saying her stepmother is paranoid.
On Sternhagen’s bodycam video, he told Mitchell she was arrested on suspicion of burglary since he believed she broke into the home to take items.
“I understand,” Mitchell replied.
Mitchell was also seen on that video asking Sternhagen if he could drop the charges which he said he could not.
Ringstrom argued Mitchell broke into Carol’s home to check on her because of her Alzheimer’s. He also said Nicole was wearing black and not wearing shoes to not startle Carol. That was because Nicole was worried Carol was going to be combative because of her diagnosis. Reporter Austin Erickson didn’t hear Nicole mention that in the bodycam video while it was shown in court.
Erickson saw Senator Mitchell speak to friends or family in the hall before the trial. She seemed happy to see them and talked about her makeup. She was seen in court with her hands together in a praying motion before trial and looked down when the defense gave opening arguments.
Right before Erickson left the courtroom, the prosecution called Carol Mitchell to the stand.
The case went into a lunch break around noon.
There is a statewide and national media presence at the Becker County Courthouse including a New York Times reporter.
(Original story below)
Detroit Lakes, M.N. – A jury has now been seated at the burglary trial of Minnesota State Senator Nicole Mitchell, as opening statements began on Tuesday morning.
Mitchell is accused of breaking into her stepmother’s home in April 2024 in Detroit Lakes.
Minnesota State Senator Nicole Mitchell listens as a judge brings court into session at her burglary trial at Becker County District Court on July 15th 2025
Mitchell allegedly claimed at the time that she entered the house to retrieve items that belonged to her late father.
It’s expected the jury at the Becker County District Courthouse could get the case by the end of the week. It is also unknown if Mitchell herself will take the stand.
Flag Family News will provide trial updates as they become available.
