Settlement Reached with Former Police Chief
A former reporter for a weekly Kansas newspaper has agreed to accept $235,000 to settle part of her federal lawsuit over a police raid on the paper. This raid brought a small community into the national spotlight, igniting a debate over press freedoms. The settlement removes the former police chief in Marion from the lawsuit filed by Deb Gruver, a former reporter for the Marion County Record. However, the settlement does not apply to two other officials she sued: the Marion County sheriff and the county prosecutor.
Details of the Settlement
Gruver’s attorney did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. An attorney for the city, its insurance company, the former chief, and others declined to comment but released a copy of the June 25 settlement agreement following an open records request by the Record. The Associated Press also obtained a copy of the agreement.
Background of the Police Raid
The raid, led by former Police Chief Gideon Cody on August 11, 2023, targeted the newspaper’s office, the home of publisher Eric Meyer, and the home of a city council member critical of the then-mayor. Marion is a small city of about 1,900 people, located about 150 miles southwest of Kansas City, Missouri. The Marion County Record is known for its aggressive coverage of local government.
Allegations and Legal Proceedings
At the time of the raid, Cody claimed he had evidence that the newspaper, reporter Phyllis Zorn, and the city council member had committed identity theft or other computer crimes in obtaining information about a local business owner’s driving record. All the accused denied any wrongdoing, and no charges were ever filed.
A federal lawsuit filed by Meyer and the newspaper alleges that the raid caused the death of Meyer’s 98-year-old mother the following day. The lawsuit suggests that Cody’s actions were in retaliation for the newspaper’s investigation into his background. During the raid, Cody seized Gruver’s personal cellphone and searched her desk, despite her lack of connection to the driving record issue.
