Ex-Kansas Police Chief Charged with Obstruction After Infamous Newspaper Raid

TOPEKA, Kan. — A former police chief is facing serious legal repercussions after an incident involving a raid on a local newspaper. Gideon Cody, who previously led the Marion Police Department, has been charged with felony obstruction of justice. Authorities allege that he attempted to persuade a witness involved in the investigation to withhold key information pertinent to his conduct.

The charge, filed in Marion County District Court, specifies that Cody allegedly influenced the witness on the day of the raid or within the following six days. Although the filing does not elaborate on the specifics, it highlights the gravity of the accusations against him.

In recent developments, a report from two special prosecutors reveals that text messages exchanged between Cody and a local business owner came under scrutiny after the raid. The business owner claimed that Cody encouraged her to delete these messages, citing concerns about how their professional relationship could be perceived.

Justifying the controversial raid, Cody claimed to possess evidence indicating that the Marion County Record, along with its publisher Eric Meyer and reporter Phyllis Zorn, had committed identity theft or related computer crimes. This assertion stemmed from an investigation surrounding a state driving record that the newspaper obtained for a liquor license application involving the business owner; the record indicated a history of driving without a valid license, albeit later reinstated.

However, the prosecutors concluded that no criminal activity occurred on the part of Meyer, Zorn, or the Marion County Record. Their investigation indicated that Cody’s actions arose from an inadequate inquiry into the matter at hand. This brings to light significant concerns regarding procedural integrity within the police department.

Harsh revelations emerged from footage of the 2023 raid, depicting an emotional scene involving Meyer’s 98-year-old mother, Joan, who was recorded pleading with officers to leave her home. Tragically, she passed away from a heart attack the following day, a fact that Eric Meyer attributes to the stress of the situation. Despite this, prosecutors clarified that there wasn’t sufficient evidence linking the raid to her death to warrant charges against Cody or his officers.