Charges: Rochester Woman Attacked Neighbor with Knife, Choked Deputy
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A Rochester woman has been charged in a pair of felony assault cases involving alleged attacks on her neighbor and a detention deputy.
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The charges say one assault happened Friday and the other occured on Sunday. Court documents say the alleged assault on the neighbor involved a knife.
44-year-old Maria Del Rocio Pezic is charged with second-degree assault and terroristic threats in the neighbor-assault case. She’s facing one count of fourth-degree assault and fifth-degree assault in the jail attack case.
Rochester, MN Woman Accused of Holding Knife to Neighbor's Throat
Rochester police responded to a residence on 15th St. Northeast in Rochester on the report of a knife assault shortly before 9:30 p.m.
The neighbor, who is identified as the victim in the complaint, told police Pezic asked her why she called the police earlier, brandished a knife and chased after the victim.
She told police Pezic then held a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her. A witness told officers they saw Pezic chasing the victim and heard her threaten the victim, the charges say.
Pezic was subsequently arrested and claimed she had threatened the victim with the knife in an act of self defense and that the victim has earlier assaulted her.
Rochester, MN Woman Accused of Attacking Deputy While Getting Medical Care in Jail
Two days later, Pezic was receiving medical attention at the Olmsted County Jail for what the complaint indicates was an allergic reaction.
Pezic passed out and was revived by a medical provider who was giving Pezic care at the jail. Once she came to, Pezic charged at the medical provider on all fours, the charges allege.
A detention deputy stepped between Pezic and the medical provider and Pezic wrapped up the deputy’s leg and took her to the ground. Pezic then began choking the deputy with her sweater, court documents allege.
Another deputy came over to assist and got Pezic off the down deputy when he brandished his taser, the complaint says.
Pezic made her first court appearances in both cases on Monday morning. Her conditional bail was set at $2,500 and she’s due back in court in both cases next month.
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