CV NEWSFEED // An Omaha woman who has been accused of breaking into the rectory of a Catholic church, stabbing her father and setting her father’s house on fire has been released from jail, local news media report.
A judge released the woman, Noemi Guzman, on her own recognizance on March 22, according to a March 25 WOWT article. Guzman must comply with Board of Mental Health requirements and stay away from St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, which is in south Omaha.
Guzman pleaded not guilty in Douglas County District Court on March 25, KETV reported on March 26. She has been charged with second-degree assault, arson, burglary and criminal mischief and she could face between one and 92 years in prison. Conditions of her pre-trial release include no use of alcohol or controlled substances, no travel more than 10 miles outside of the county and no contact with her parents, the church or the pastor.
According to WOWT, Omaha Police said officers responded to a call at about 5:20 a.m. March 3 after a female had reportedly doused a man in flammable liquid and cut him with a knife before trying to set the house on fire. Around 6 a.m. March 3, police were alerted to a burglary at the church. The police said Guzman broke into the rectory armed with a kitchen knife. Firefighters rescued the parish priest, who had barricaded himself in an upstairs bedroom after Guzman charged at him with the knife, according to court records.
“SWAT officials and crisis negotiators were called in, along with the deployment of drones — attempts to get her out were initially unsuccessful,” WOWT reported. “The suspect apparently tried to spray officers with bear repellent — OPD (Omaha Police Department) says officers used a ‘less lethal’ agent to get her out.”
Guzman is also accused of tearing a painting valued at $5,000 off the wall, the news outlet reported.
“The Archdiocese of Omaha is grateful to God for the safe conclusion to the incident at the St. Frances Cabrini rectory this morning, especially for the swift actions of first responders. We continue to pray for those involved in that incident and the preceding events,” Archdiocese of Omaha spokesperson Riley Johnson said in a statement following the incident, both outlets reported.
