Nicole Mitchell: Minnesota senator caught 'in process' of burglary, jeopardizes Democratic majority

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: A state senator and former broadcast meteorologist was taken into custody on Monday, April 22, on suspicion of burglary in Detroit Lakes, a city in northwest Minnesota.

Democratic senator Nicole Lynn Mitchell, 49, of Woodbury, is being held on a first-degree burglary charge in Becker County Jail. 

Nicole Mitchell was arrested during Senate's recess during Passover

According to chief of police for Detroit Lakes, Steve Todd, formal charges were still pending on Monday afternoon. 

Mitchell's lawyer is yet to make a comment on the arrest, the chief of police claimed.

Mitchell was taken into custody during the senate's recess during Passover. With four weeks left in the legislative session, Senate Democrats, who currently hold a one-seat majority, find themselves in a difficult situation as a result of her arrest.

It would be challenging to pass any legislation without the support of both parties without her. Prior to her election to the Senate in 2022 from a suburban St Paul district, Mitchell worked as a meteorologist for the US military, KSTP and Minnesota Public Radio.

According to her official profile, she is still a lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard, leading a weather unit. Her profile states that she was employed by The Weather Channel at one point in her career.

In an interview, Todd stated that at 4:45 am, a homeowner called 911 reporting "an active burglary in process at her residence." Todd stated that Mitchell was taken into custody after a search of the residence by the authorities.

Police chief waiting for formal complaint from attorney's office

Since the case investigation is ongoing, the police chief said he could not go into further detail. He said he was waiting on word from the county attorney's office and that a formal complaint detailing the accusations might not be filed until Tuesday, April 23. 

Public records and an obituary posted by a Detroit Lakes funeral home stated that Mitchell’s father, who died last month, and stepmother lived on the same block of the same road in Detroit Lakes where the senator was taken into custody.

Senate leaders were caught off guard when Mitchell was arrested. According to a statement from the Senate Democratic Caucus, it is "aware of the situation and has no comment pending further information."

East Grand Forks resident Mark Johnson, the Republican majority leader in the Senate, expressed shock but little knowledge of the situation.

“The public expects Legislators to meet a high standard of conduct,” Johnson said in a statement, according to ABC News. "As information comes out, we expect the consequences to meet the actions, both in the court of law, and in her role at the legislature.”