New details released in vice officer’s case

Investigators have identified multiple women who were tenants atmultiple properties owned by former Columbus police vice officer Andrew K. Mitchell, who is accused of arresting two women and forcing them into having sex in exchange for their freedom.

The new details were included in a court filing by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Kim inarguing against the 55-year-old Mitchell, who had more than 30 years with the police division, being released from jail on court supervision pending trial.

Kim wrote in the court filing that many of the women were drug addicts and some were prostitutes.

The women told investigators they traded sex with Mitchell for reduced or free rent at his properties, according to the filing.

Mitchell’s attorney, Mark Collins, said his client has not been charged with any crime related to his rental properties.

In the motion filed late Wednesday afternoon, Kim also wrote that multiple witnesses were terrified of Mitchell and feared retaliation.

She noted that during a search of Mitchell’s Sunbury-area home on Sept. 26, police found at least 17 firearms.

Mitchell, who is married, appeared on Thursday with his wife in U.S. District Court in Columbus for an arraignment on charges announced last week that he had arrested two Mitchell women, one of them twice, and forced them to engage in sexual activity. Mitchellalso is accused of tampering with witnesses and lying to investigators after becoming aware of the investigation against him.

Mitchell, who filed for retirement from the police division effective March 13, entered notguilty pleas to all the charges. Magistrate Judge Kimberly Jolson had ordered that Mitchell be held in detention pending trial.

Mitchell also was scheduled fora hearing Thursday on a motion forhis release from detention pending trial. Collins said he asked for the detention hearing to be continued so he and the rest of Mitchell’s defense team can review the evidenceagainst Mitchelland seek to make a stronger argument for his release.

Mitchell has been subpoenaed to testify before a Franklin County grand jury on April 4 in relation to the Aug. 23 shooting of Donna Castleberry. Mitchell and Castleberry were in an unmarked police vehicle while Mitchell was working undercover. Castleberry reportedly stabbed Mitchell in the hand and he shot Castleberry three times, according to the autopsy report.

Bobbi Mccalla, Castleberry’s sister, and Mary Laile, Castleberry’s cousin, were in court Thursday to see Mitchell for the first time. They said seeing him was “nauseating” and believed he should stay behind bars.

“A normal citizen wouldn’t be allowed out, so why should he?” Laile said.