Alpha News Files Suit to Authorize Release of Body and Dash Camera Footage from Arrest of Senator Nicole Mitchell
The Upper Midwest Law Center (UMLC) has filed a complaint on behalf of Alpha News asking the Becker County District Court to authorize the release of the body and dash camera footage related to the arrest of Senator Nicole Mitchell on April 22, 2024.
The Complaint asks the Becker County District Court to authorize the release of the body and dash camera footage under Minnesota Statutes, section 13.82, subdivision 7, to shed additional light on what happened at 4:45 AM on April 22 in Detroit Lakes. Controversy and public dispute have arisen because public statements made by Senator Mitchell and her attorney describing her motives and actions appear to contradict the sworn allegations in the criminal complaint. Numerous public figures have now called for more details to know what happened that led to Senator Mitchell’s arrest, and this lawsuit seeks those additional details.
The Complaint asks for expedited treatment because of the substantial public interest at issue. So far, an ethics complaint has been filed against Senator Mitchell, yet Mitchell has announced that she does not intend to resign and is planning to continue to act as a state senator. Important public figures such as Governor Tim Walz have stated that this situation raises “some very serious questions [that] need to be addressed,” that answers “need to be provided very quickly here,” and that “there is a strong responsibility that elected officials are held to a high standard.”
“The public deserves to have a full picture of what happened with Senator Mitchell’s arrest, and the camera footage of that event is crucial to a full understanding,” said Alpha News Editor-in-Chief Anthony Gockowski.
October 2024 Update: Update on the Alpha News case seeking the release of police body camera footage of the arrest of Senator Mitchell: The City of Detroit Lakes filed a response brief on appeal, which was unexpected since they didn’t oppose our motion at the district court level. Our reply is in, and now we are waiting for a hearing date.
Click here to view the filed complaint.
Click here to view the case exhibits.
