UPDATE: In a shocking turn of events, serious police blunders have been exposed during the felony burglary trial of Sen. Nicole Mitchell, DFL-Woodbury. Testimony in Becker County District Court reveals critical evidence mishandling in the investigation surrounding the alleged break-in at her stepmother’s home on April 22, 2024.
Nicole Mitchell was arrested after police discovered her in the basement of her stepmother Carol Mitchell‘s home in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. She faces charges of first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools, to which she has pleaded not guilty. The implications of these police errors could be pivotal, as jurors only need to find reasonable doubt to acquit her.
During the trial, Becker County Attorney Brian McDonald pressed Detroit Lakes Police Chief Steven Todd on the investigation’s inadequacies. Todd acknowledged, “Yes,” when asked if there were items he wished had been handled differently, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
Police failed to secure vital evidence, including a note found in Mitchell’s backpack containing alarming phrases like “delete texts” and “add tracking Gmail.” The prosecution did not highlight its significance since it was never logged into evidence. “Would it be fair to say you didn’t understand or didn’t appreciate the significance of this at the time?” McDonald asked Deputy Sheriff Ethan Wothe, who admitted, “That would be fair, yes.”
Another mishap involved a pair of black “flashlight gloves” found on Nicole Mitchell during her booking. These gloves could suggest intent to commit theft, yet they were returned to her without being logged. Police Chief Todd expressed regret over this decision, emphasizing the critical nature of properly securing evidence.
Adding to the chaos, police did not search Mitchell’s car for stolen items nor apply for a search warrant for her phone. These oversights were echoed in Todd’s testimony, revealing the depth of procedural errors that could significantly impact the trial’s outcome.
The situation took another twist when Carol Mitchell called authorities back to her home, discovering a prybar outside the egress window, the entry point alleged by police. Bodycam footage showed Wothe carelessly picking up the prybar with his bare hands, a clear violation of evidence collection protocols. This further complicates the case, as Carol struggled to identify the prybar shown in court and exhibited signs of memory loss related to the event.
After the prosecution rested its case on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, the defense began presenting its arguments. They aim to convince jurors that Nicole Mitchell was merely conducting a welfare check on her ailing stepmother, who is battling Alzheimer’s disease, rather than attempting a burglary. The defense has hinted at calling Nicole Mitchell to testify, which could be a pivotal moment in the trial.
If convicted, she faces a maximum of 20 years for first-degree burglary and 3 years for possession of burglary tools. As the trial progresses, the potential consequences of these police errors and the emotional stakes for the Mitchell family continue to grow.
Stay tuned for more updates as this high-profile case unfolds. The implications of the jury’s decision will resonate far beyond the courtroom.
