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The Raid

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January 31, 2025

TLDR: In 2023, police raided Eric Meyer's workplace and home, leading to his mother Joan's fatal heart attack. The episode focuses on this incident.

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In 2023, an unprecedented event occurred in Marion, Kansas, where police executed a raid on the Marion County Record, a local newspaper run by Eric Meyer and his mother, Joan. This episode of the podcast Criminal details the unsettling circumstances surrounding the raid and its tragic aftermath.

Key Events Leading to the Raid

  • Eric Meyer’s Background: Eric, an experienced journalist and journalism professor, became the editor of the Marion County Record in 2021, aiming to uphold serious journalism standards. The newspaper, which has around 4,000 subscribers, has historically covered local events comprehensively.

  • Police Chief’s Controversial Past: The controversy began after the Marion County Record started investigating Gideon Cody's background, who had just been appointed police chief. Sources indicated he may have been demoted in his previous position for unprofessional conduct. When the Record sought to report on this, Cody allegedly threatened to sue them.

  • Public Event Altercation: Tension escalated when Eric and a reporter were ejected from a local event by a coffee shop owner, Carrie Newell, who was reportedly allied with Cody. Following this, the Record received a tip regarding Newell's alleged illegal driving.

The Raid: Police Action

On August 11, 2023:

  • Seven police officers, including Chief Cody, raided both the Meyer home and the newspaper's office, seeking evidence of identity theft related to the investigation of the previous weekend's events regarding Carrie Newell.
  • The warrant claimed the newspaper had illegally accessed public records, leading to the seizure of multiple devices, including personal cell phones and computers.
  • Eric vividly describes the intimidation tactics employed, comparing the police presence to Nazi tactics as his elderly mother, Joan, became increasingly distressed during the two-and-a-half-hour raid.

Aftermath of the Raid

Tragically, less than 24 hours after the raid:

  • Joan Meyer suffered a heart attack and passed away, deeply affecting Eric, who noted that she had dedicated almost 60 years to the paper.
  • The public outcry was immense; Eric and the Marion County Record felt the need to publish a paper that week, which they titled "Seized, but not silenced."

Legal Repercussions and Community Support

The events prompted:

  • Legal Action: The Marion County Record filed a lawsuit against the police, highlighting potential First Amendment violations.
  • Community Response: The raid garnered significant national and international attention, rallying support from the local community and boosting subscription rates for the newspaper.

Reflections from Eyewitnesses

  • Felicity Behringer, a journalist with past experiences of newspaper raids, reflected on the seriousness of such events undermining press freedom, drawing parallels between past and present actions taken against news organizations.
  • Both Eric Meyer and other journalists expressed deep concerns about the implications of such aggressive tactics by law enforcement, noting that they could hamper journalistic credibility and freedom.

Conclusion: Press Freedom at Stake

This episode of Criminal paints a sobering picture of the challenges journalists face in the pursuit of truth, especially when public officials manipulate law enforcement to silence dissent. The raid on the Marion County Record is a stark reminder of the ongoing issues around press freedom in the United States. Eric Meyer continues to honor his mother’s legacy while standing firm in support of journalistic integrity, underlying the necessity of a free press in democracy.

Key Takeaways:

  • Awareness: Understanding the fragility of press freedom and the potential for political misuse of law enforcement.
  • Community Unity: The importance of community support in standing against unjust actions targeting journalists.
  • Legacy and Resilience: The enduring impact of dedicated journalists on their communities, even in the face of tragedy.

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