Toledo pastor, family charged with aggravated robbery

2/19/2018

St. Paul’s AME Zion Church on Belmont Avenue in Toledo on Monday.

The Blade/Kurt Steiss
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A downtown Toledo pastor and his family are accused of robbing a Sunday school teacher at the church over the weekend. 

St. Paul’s AME Zion Church Pastor Anthony Morris, 49, along with his wife, Zelda Morris, 46, and 19-year-old daughter Kamali Morris, are each charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, a first-degree felony. 

Nickema Turner, 39, of Maumee was teaching Sunday school at the church, 954 Belmont Ave., when the younger woman grabbed her by the hair, according to a Toledo police report. 

Mrs. Morris then began punching Ms. Turner, police said. The pastor also pushed Ms. Turner to the ground, according to the police report. 

During the assault, Mrs. Morris is accused of dumping items from Ms. Turner’s purse and taking them. 

RELATED: Bond set for Toledo pastor, his wife in robbery case

Ms. Turner attempted to recover her belongings when Mr. Morris allegedly pulled out a gun and pointed it at her, police said. The woman told police the pastor threatened to kill her. 

Two prescription bottles, a Taser, and a cell phone were taken from Ms. Turner’s purse, according to the police report. The cell phone was recovered, but the glass was broken. 

The Morris family, who reside in the 3000 block of Evergreen Road, fled the church before police arrived. The couple have been arrested, though the daughter has yet to be located, according to Toledo police. 

Ms. Turner was treated at the scene by Toledo Fire and Rescue crews. Ms. Turner and independent witnesses verified the information to police detectives. 

The Blade attempted to reach Ms. Turner. 

Contact Allison Reamer at areamer@theblade.com, 419-724-6506 or on Twitter @AllisonRBlade.