Marion, Kansas – The police chief responsible for a controversial raid on a local newspaper and its publisher’s home has resigned, according to Mayor David Mayfield. The raid, which occurred in August, drew widespread criticism from news organizations and press freedom advocates.
Chief Gideon Cody of the Marion Police Department resigned on Monday, though the mayor did not elaborate on the reason, citing it as a “personal matter.” Officer Zach Hudlin has been appointed as the acting police chief in Cody’s absence. Hudlin was present during the raid and seized items from the newspaper, including a reporter’s cell phone, based on a search warrant.
The paper’s publisher, Eric Meyer, believes the raid was prompted by a story about a local restaurant owner. However, authorities claimed they were investigating “identity theft” in their search warrant. The restaurant owner had accused a reporter of unlawfully obtaining her driving records before the story was published. Unredacted affidavits obtained by CNN indicate that Cody justified the raids based on this belief.
However, less than a week after the raids, Marion County’s top prosecutor withdrew the search warrants and asked for the return of the seized materials. The prosecutor argued that there was “insufficient evidence” to establish a connection between the alleged crime and the places searched.
The former police chief now faces a federal lawsuit filed by Marion County Record reporter Debbie Gruver, who accuses Cody of violating her constitutional rights. Gruver’s lawsuit claims that Cody obtained an “unreasonable and unlawful” search warrant and seized her personal property. The suit also alleges that Cody targeted Gruver due to her investigation into allegations of misconduct against him during his time in the Kansas City Police Department.
Judge Laura Viar, who authorized the search warrants, is also facing a complaint about her decision. A judicial body has requested her response to the complaint.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is currently leading the investigation into the police raids.