Police Raid on Local Kansas Newspaper Sparks Controversy
MARION, Kansas — The Marion County Record, a local newspaper in central Kansas, is at the center of a heated debate over press freedom following a recent police raid on its offices and the home of its publisher and owner. The raid, which has been condemned by press freedom watchdogs as a violation of the U.S. Constitution’s protection of a free press, has raised serious concerns.
According to the Marion County Record’s own reports, police raided the newspaper’s office and seized its computers, phones, and file server, as well as the personal cellphones of the staff. During the raid, a reporter suffered an injury when the Marion Police Chief forcefully took her cellphone from her hand. Simultaneously, the home of Eric Meyer, the newspaper’s publisher and co-owner, was also raided, resulting in the seizure of his computers, cellphone, and internet router. Tragically, Meyer’s 98-year-old mother, who resided in the home, collapsed and passed away the following day, with Meyer attributing her death to the stress caused by the raid.
Many believe the raid was in response to a story published by the newspaper about a local restaurant owner, Kari Newell. Newell had previously asked the police to remove Meyer and a newspaper reporter from her restaurant during a public reception for U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner. The incident sparked a series of accusations and counter-accusations between Newell and the newspaper. The newspaper confirmed that it had received unsolicited information about Newell’s driving violations but had decided not to publish a story as it was uncertain about the legality of the source. However, the newspaper did report on a city council meeting in which Newell herself admitted to a DUI conviction and driving with a suspended license.
Furthermore, Eric Meyer revealed that the newspaper had been investigating the police chief’s background and his departure from the Kansas City, Missouri, police department before being hired in Marion. A search warrant, signed by a local judge, listed Newell as the victim of alleged crimes by the newspaper. However, the newspaper was informed by the district court that no probable cause affidavit, required by law to issue a search warrant, was on file.
In defense of the raid, Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody stated that although federal law typically requires a subpoena for such actions, an exception can be made “when there is reason to believe the journalist is taking part in the underlying wrongdoing.” Cody did not provide details about the alleged wrongdoing or respond to queries about the presence of a probable cause affidavit for the search warrant.
The Marion County Record plans to take legal action against the police department, calling the raid an unconstitutional violation of the First Amendment’s free press guarantee. Several press freedom and civil rights organizations have also expressed their criticism of the raid, citing violations of federal law and the First Amendment.
As the controversy continues to unfold, the Marion County Record has received an outpouring of support from individuals and organizations offering assistance and resources to help the newspaper continue its operations.
