A Democratic Minnesota state senator is facing charges related to a burglary at a home in Detroit Lakes. Her actions appear to be motivated by a familial dispute over her deceased father’s belongings.

State Sen. Nicole Mitchell, 49, was arrested at the residence after the homeowner, the lawmaker’s stepmother, contacted the authorities around 4:45 a.m. on Monday.

Mitchell was formally charged with one count of first-degree burglary, according to a complaint shared with The Hill and filed Tuesday. Mitchell, a former meteorologist and a lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard, is serving her first term in the Minnesota Senate after being elected in 2022.

According to the complaint, police received reports that someone had broken into a residence and the person had run into the basement.

The police found Mitchell, who was dressed in all black clothing and a black hat, in the basement of the house, according to the complaint. The complaint states Mitchell told officers the victim was her stepmother, who cut off contact from her and her family after Mitchell’s father died.

“I was just trying to get a couple of my dad’s things because you wouldn’t talk to me anymore,” she told her stepmother during her arrest, according to the complaint.

She was trying to get items of her late father’s, including “pictures, a flannel shirt, ashes, and other items of sentimental value,” the complaint states.

At one point, Mitchell commented that “clearly I’m not good at this” after officers searched her backpack. The officers found a laptop with her stepmother’s name on it that Mitchell said was given to her by the stepmother, who denied giving it to her.

The complaint reportedly notes that Mitchell told her stepmother during the arrest that she “was just trying to get a couple of my dad’s things because you wouldn’t talk to me anymore.”

The lawmaker, who is currently serving her first term in office, is set to appear in court on Tuesday. She is currently in custody.

State Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, a Republican, expressed his surprise at the revelation in a written statement.

Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks, said in a statement he was “shocked” about the news regarding his colleague.

“The public expects Legislators to meet a high standard of conduct. 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,” Johnson said.

“I know I did something bad, Mitchell said after being read her Miranda rights, according to the complaint. She recounted driving from the Twin Cities to her stepmother’s home. She forced her way into the residence through a window. She later told a police officer that she had gotten into a quarrel with her stepmother and that they were no longer on speaking terms.

The arrest comes at an inconvenient time for Senate Democrats.

Mitchell did not immediately return a call left on the jail’s voicemail system for inmates. It’s not clear if she has an attorney who could comment on her behalf. The police chief said he didn’t know of one.

Mitchell was arrested while the Senate is on its Passover break. Her arrest comes at an awkward time for Senate Democrats, who hold just a one-seat majority with four weeks left in the legislative session. Her absence would make it difficult to pass any legislation that lacks bipartisan support.

Charges are expected to be levied against Mitchell on Tuesday.