Sen. Nicole Mitchell's burglary trial: Bodycam videos shown in court

DETROIT LAKES, Minn. (FOX 9) - The burglary trial of Sen. Nicole Mitchell continued on Tuesday with opening statements and testimony, including showing body camera video from responding officers when she was arrested. 

Mitchell, who represents Woodbury, faces a count of first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools for allegedly breaking into her stepmother's home in Detroit Lakes in 2024. 

Watch live:

FOX 9 will live stream the trial on FOX LOCAL Mobile, YouTube and in the player above. The trial stream is on a 10-minute delay, per court rules. 

You can find updates on the trial from Tuesday below. Court will resume at 9 a.m. on Wednesday. 

4:18 p.m. - Becker County Deputy Benjamin Bruce

Becker County Deputy Benjamin Bruce took the stand to testify about responding to the burglary call with the Detroit Lakes Police Department. 

Bruce's bodycam footage was shown in court. 

2:30 p.m. - Deputy Ethan Wothe

Deputy Ethan Wothe, a former Detroit Lakes Police Department officer, responded to the Detroit Lakes home on the report of a burglary. He testified about responding to Carol Mitchell's home, and arresting Sen. Nicole Mitchell. He testified about what he found at the scene, including finding a backpack in the basement. He also spoke with Carol Mitchell about the family troubles they were having at the time of the burglary. 

Wothe's bodycam video from Mitchell's arrest was also shown in court. 

2 p.m. - Deputy Leah Horner

Deputy Leah Honer, former Becker County Corrections Officer at the Becker County Jail, testified on Tuesday about her duties as a corrections officer on the day Sen. Mitchell was arrested. She discussed flashlight gloves that were in Mitchell's possession when she was arrested. 

During her testimony, video of Mitchell's booking was played in court. 

1:15 p.m. - Break ends, Carol Mitchell's testimony continues

After a lunch break, the trial resumed with Carol Mitchell's testimony. She has opted not to testify on camera. 

11:48 a.m. - Carol Mitchell 

Prosecutors called Carol Mitchell, Nicole Mitchell's stepmother and owner of the Detroit Lakes home, to the stand.

Carol Mitchell has opted not to testify on camera. Following her testimony, the court will take a lunch break.

10:26 a.m. - Officer Joe Sternhagen 

Officer Joe Sternhagen, an investigator and former patrol officer with the Detroit Lakes Police Department, is the second witness to testify for the prosecution. He was one of the first responding officers at the scene. 

Officer Sternhagen recalled responding to the 911 call, and encountering Mitchell. He detailed that Mitchell was in possession of a flashlight with a sock covering the light, and later she reportedly said "Clearly I’m not good at this" and "I’m a military commander for God sake".

During his testimony, the prosecution played the bodycam footage of Officer Sternhagen responding to the scene and his encounter with Mitchell.

10 a.m. - Becker County Sheriff's Office Dispatcher Joseph Robbins testifies

Becker County Sheriff's Office Dispatcher Joseph Robbins was the first witness to testify for the prosecution. During his testimony, the prosecution played a 911 call from Carol Mitchell the night of the alleged burglary. 

9:40 a.m. - Defense's opening statements

Bruce Ringstrom Jr., Mitchell's attorney, presented the defense's opening statement. He focused on Mitchell's relationships with her family members and her stepmother's worsening Alzheimer's and her mood swings. 

Ringstrom said Mitchell was checking on her stepmother Carol Mitchell, and to check on her she had to go in through the window. When police arrived, Mitchell didn't say anything about Carol's Alzheimer's so as to not enrage her. 

"A burglar runs. A concerned child stays," Ringstrom said. 

9:30 a.m. - Prosecution's opening statements

Becker County Attorney Brian McDonald presented the opening statement for the prosecution, laying out their case against Sen. Nicole Mitchell.

McDonald said Mitchell pried open a basement window with a crowbar, was dressed in all black and had a flashlight covered with a sock. McDonald said Sen. Mitchell entered the home to steal. 

McDonald stressed the defense will likely focus on the "why" — why Mitchell would do this. But the why doesn't justify burglary. McDonald said. 

9 a.m. - Opening statements Tuesday morning

Opening statements are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. FOX 9 will livestream the court proceedings, but on a 10-minute delay as required by the court. 

A jury was selected on Monday. The jury includes 10 men and five women. 

Sen. Nicole Mitchell charges 

Dig deeper:

A criminal complaint states that Detroit Lakes police responded to a reported burglary at a home around 4:45 a.m. on April 22, 2024.

At the scene, police found Mitchell in the home's basement dressed in all black. Officers say they also found a flashlight covered with a black sock on Mitchell. Officers searched for a black backpack that was stuck in a window at the scene and recovered two laptops, a cellphone, a driver’s license, Senate identification and miscellaneous Tupperware, according to the complaint.

Mitchell reportedly told investigators she was "just trying to get some of my dad's things" and added "clearly, I'm not good at this." 

The complaint states that Mitchell explained to police that her father had just died, and she wanted sentimental items her stepmother refused to give to her.

Mitchell said those include her father's ashes, pictures, clothes and other sentimental items.

Crime and Public SafetyMinnesota