98-Year-Old Mother of Kansas Newspaper Editor Confronts Police During Raid: Video Released

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A video made public reveals the agitated confrontation between the 98-year-old mother of a Kansas newspaper editor and police officers as they conducted a search of her residence. Joan Meyer’s shouts of “Get out of my house!” during the raid have become the focal point of national attention.

The video was released on Monday by the newspaper and captured Joan Meyer expressing her indignation at the six officers inside her Marion, Kansas home. Assisted by a walker, wearing a robe or gown and slippers, her distress is apparent.

“Leave my house … I do not want you here!” she exclaimed. “Do not touch anything! This is my home!” she declared at another point.

The Aug. 11 raids, which included the newspaper’s office, the Meyer family’s residences, and the house of a City Council member, were prompted by allegations from a local restaurant owner against the newspaper. The owner accused them of illegal access to her information. Tragically, Joan Meyer passed away the day after the raid, and her son believes that the stress was a contributing factor.

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The prosecutor eventually stated that there was not enough evidence to validate the raids. Some confiscated items, such as computers and phones, have been returned. Furthermore, the initial online search cited by the police chief as a basis for the raid was legal, according to a spokesperson for the site’s maintaining agency.

The raid has thrust the Record newspaper and Marion, a town of approximately 1,900 inhabitants, into a broader discussion regarding First Amendment rights and local politics. It has also put Police Chief Gideon Cody under the spotlight after he led the raids following the newspaper’s inquiries about his background.

At a recent City Council meeting, Marion resident Darvin Markley called for Chief Cody’s dismissal, saying, “The man needs to go. He needs to be fired.”

Cody did not respond to inquiries for comment but had previously stated in affidavits that he had reasonable grounds to suspect identity theft or computer crimes.

The situation involves both the newspaper and City Council member Ruth Herbel, who, along with the police chief, have conflicting accounts regarding access to a woman’s license information. The legality of their actions is at the center of the dispute.

During the first City Council meeting since the raids, Vice Mayor Herbel announced that the topic would not be discussed but would be addressed in a future meeting.

Opinions vary, with some calling for Cody’s resignation and others urging restraint in judgment.

The newspaper’s editor, Eric Meyer, intends to file a lawsuit over the raid, and he has highlighted the seizure of items from a reporter not involved in the restaurant dispute but who had been investigating why Cody left his previous job.

Some legal experts argue that the raid violated federal or state laws that protect journalists, and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation continues to probe the matter.

Contributors to this report include Salter, reporting from O’Fallon, Missouri, and Heather Hollingsworth, a writer for Big Big News in Mission, Kansas.

The Big Big News is funded by various private foundations to augment its coverage of elections and democracy. The AP maintains full responsibility for all content.

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• Kansas Bill of Rights
• U.S. First Amendment
• Kansas Bureau of Investigation
• Marion County Record
• Computer Crime Laws in Kansas