Former Kansas police chief Gideon Cody, who allegedly orchestrated the attack on the Marion County Record newspaper, will be charged with obstructing the course of justice, prosecutors announced Monday.
The charges are expected to be filed in Marion County District Court following an extensive hearing. review The raid, conducted by Sedgwick County District Attorney Mark Bennett and Riley County Attorney Barry Wilkerson, on August 11, has generated much attention and controversy.
Former Kansas police chief faces criminal charges after newspaper attack, prosecutors say https://t.co/7osRHPZJa4
— Kansas City Star (@KCStar) August 5, 2024
The detailed 124-page report analyzed the execution of the search warrant and the events that followed. While the report does not go into detail about how Cody obstructed justice, it does include an allegation headed, “Did Chief Cody commit any crimes with respect to his interactions with Kari Newell following the execution of the warrant on August 11, 2023?”
The expected charges will focus on text messages exchanged between Cody and local business owner Kari Newell after the raid. The operation targeted the home of newspaper publisher Joan Meyer, 98, and her son, Eric Meyer. Joan died the day after the raid, and the report says she was extremely upset by the events. The public version of the report lacks a legal analysis of the case. However, the report notes that its findings will be used to support charges in Marion County District Court.
The Marion, Kansas City Council voted 3-2 to not suspend Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody, whose fascist officers illegally raided the home of 98-year-old Joan Meyer, who died of stress the day after the latter’s death.pic.twitter.com/OfSenrluwt
— Fifty Shades of Whey (@davenewworld_2) September 19, 2023
Prosecutors said the officers involved would not face criminal charges for her death. The search warrant was withdrawn a week later by the local prosecutor, who cited “insufficient evidence” to continue the investigation. according to Cody resigned from the Marion Police Department a few weeks after the attack, he told the Kansas City Star, but has not responded publicly to requests for comment since then. (RELATED: Grand jury indicts Uvalde Police officers for failing to prevent infamous school shooting)
The raid has since resulted in several lawsuits, according to the Kansas City Star, and Eric told the paper that it was too early to give a full response because he was still reviewing the full report.
