Mask violation leads to woman assaulting police and urinating in patrol car

25-year-old Morgan Zekas was charged with 6 counts of assaulting an officer; one aggravated, 2 counts resisting arrest, vandalism, possession of marijuana, public intox and health regulation violation when she was found defying the mask mandate and an officer said she threatened him when he asked her to put one on.

On October 29th, Metro Nashville Police Officer Randall was conducting mask enforcement duty on Broadway when Morgan Zekas was spotted walking near Opry Place. According to affidavits, Officer Randall requested she put on a mask as required by local government Order #8, but she waved her hand in the air and disregarded his request. He asked once more and told him she would be detained and cited if she did not cooperate. When the officer began to approach her she yelled, “if you touch me, I’m going to punch you” and lifted her hand in a threatening manner. Officer Randall advised he thought she would hit him, so he grabbed her arm to avoid the attack. Randall told Zekas that she was under arrest and demanded she put her hands behind her back.

While he attempted to cuff her, Zekas twisted her body and pulled away. During the struggle, Zekas kicked the officer in the groin, called him a “nigger” and tried to spit on him. Eventually, she was secured by Officers Hill, Hartle, and Randall, who she continued trying to batter. When Officer Hill attempted to question her, he noted she smelled strongly of alcohol and was screaming frantically and thrashing about the patrol car.

Upon arrival at the sally port to transfer custody, Zekas attempted to spit at the officers through a spit mask that had been placed on her. While they were attempting to remove her from the patrol car, Zekas kicked Officer Hartel multiple times and landed a punt to Officer Hill’s groin. Hill explained that she was wearing a heeled boot and caused him to experience excruciating pain to the point where he was unable to stand or breathe. Zekas responded to the attack by laughing and told him he was only going to have one testicle left. She also continued to call Randall a “nigger” and referred to other personnel as “faggots”.

Zekas admitted to intentionally urinating approximately four times in the back of the patrol car while she was being transported and told one of the officers she was going to pee in their mouth. The seat of the patrol car was observed to be saturated with a liquid that smelled of urine. During an incidental search of Zekas’ purse, officers recovered about 3.2 grams of suspected marijuana. She assaulted yet another officer during booking.

Morgan Zekas was arrested and charged with four counts of assault of an officer, attempted assault, aggravated assault, three counts of resisting arrest, possession of marijuana, Board of health regulation violation, and vandalism. She was later released on a $43,500 bond.