In a tragic turn of events, a police raid on the home and office of a newspaper publisher in Marion, Kansas has been linked to the death of the publisher’s 98-year-old mother. Joan Meyer, who co-owned the Marion County Record, passed away at her home after experiencing extreme stress and grief caused by the raid, according to the Record. Despite her age, she was otherwise in good health, the media outlet stated.
The raid was initiated by the Marion Police Department following a complaint from a local restaurant owner, Kari Newell. Newell accused the Record of illegally obtaining information about her during a council meeting. The police, accompanied by five officers from the Marion Police Department and two sheriff’s deputies, arrived at the Record offices and seized everything they could find, according to Eric Meyer, the newspaper’s publisher and co-owner.
Computers, including the newspaper’s file service, and personal cell phones belonging to staff members were confiscated. Eric Meyer recounted how his mother tearfully watched as the police took away her computer, router, and Alexa smart speakers. He also revealed that Newell had a history of drunk driving and driving without a license, but he ultimately decided not to publish the story. Instead, he reported the matter to the police, who launched an investigation and obtained a search warrant.
The search warrant, which was made available online, was approved by a judge who believed there was probable cause to suspect the commission of crimes. Meyer expressed his frustration, stating, “Basically, all the law enforcement officers on duty in Marion County, Kansas, descended on our offices today and seized our server and computers and personal cellphones of staff members all because of a story we didn’t publish.” The Record plans to file a federal lawsuit against the city of Marion in response to the raid.
Seth Stern, director of advocacy for Freedom of the Press Foundation, condemned the raid, stating that it appeared to violate federal law, the First Amendment, and basic human decency. The Marion Police Department, on the other hand, argued that the federal Privacy Protection Act does not apply when there is reason to believe that a journalist is involved in wrongdoing.
This incident has sparked outrage and calls for justice. “Everyone involved should be ashamed of themselves,” said one individual. The Marion Police Department has stated that the victim, referring to Newell, wants justice to be served and has requested that they do everything within the bounds of the law to ensure it.
It is a distressing situation that highlights the importance of protecting journalists and upholding their rights. The Marion County Record’s fight for justice is far from over, and the outcome of their federal lawsuit will be closely watched.
