A Minnesota senator arrested and charged with first-degree robbery said the incident occurred while he was trying to sneak into the home of a relative with dementia to retrieve the remains of his father.
Sen. Nicole Mitchell, 49, was arrested early Monday after being found inside a home in Detroit Lakes, Minn., about 320 miles northwest of Minneapolis and the suburban district Mitchell represents.
Mitchell said in a Facebook post Tuesday afternoon that while visiting a family member with Alzheimer’s disease, she learned of the medical information that led her to test the person’s health. She added that Ms Mitchell said her family was “enduring the pain of watching their loved one decline”.
“Over the weekend, I learned of medical information that caused serious concern and I came to check on the family. “I even got sick once in my room,” Mitchell wrote.
“Unfortunately, I frightened this relative, aggravated his paranoia, and he was accused of theft, which I absolutely deny.”
Mitchell calls incident ‘private matter’
The Democratic elected official thanked friends and colleagues from both parties for their words of support and for “trusting my character before responding.”
“This was a true tragedy for our family. I hope this returns to a private matter.”
Mitchell was booked into the Becker County Jail on Monday, and the attorney’s office charged her with first-degree robbery, Detroit Lakes Police Chief Steve Todd told USA TODAY.
Mitchell says he was picking up his father’s remains.
Mitchell told the officers who found her in her home that she had picked up her father’s remains, as well as photographs, a flannel shirt and other sentimental items, according to the criminal complaint.
She was reportedly wearing all black clothing and a black hat.
Mitchell told the victim, “I was just trying to get some of my dad’s stuff because you weren’t talking to me anymore,” according to the complaint.
According to the complaint, Mitchell told officers that he had “just gotten into the house” and that “obviously I’m not good at this.” She left her home in Woodbury around 1 a.m. and drove to Detroit Lakes, where she entered her family’s home through a window, she said.
She added that she got into an argument with the relative and they stopped talking.
The Star Tribune reported that in 2022, county property tax records show that Mitchell’s stepmother and father lived in the area where the alleged robbery occurred.
Mitchell faces calls to resign from opposition
Mitchell, who is serving his first term since being elected in 2022, is facing calls from his opponents to resign.
Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson called for Mitchell to resign immediately because the complaint details extensive preparations to break into his family’s home.
“While I understand the difficult circumstances her family is facing, Sen. Mitchell’s actions are concerning,” Johnson said in a statement. “This behavior is unbecoming of a member of Congress, and she should immediately resign from her Senate seat.”
“This is a very important decision,” said Brian Strother, chairman of the Minnesota Gun Owners Conference. news release If Mitchell does not resign, the state Senate will have to expel her from office. In the same news release, Senior Vice President Rob Dore said the charges raise serious concerns about her ability to assess public safety issues.
