The office manager at a weekly newspaper in Kansas, Cheri Bentz, has filed a lawsuit over a police raid last year, joining two other employees who have already sued. The raid occurred on August 11 at the Marion County Record’s newsroom, as well as the home of Publisher Eric Meyer. The former Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody, who is named in the suit, was investigating whether the newspaper had committed identity theft in accessing a local restaurant owner’s driving record. Cody later resigned after body camera video of the raid was released, showing an officer searching the desk of a reporter investigating the chief’s past. The raid sparked a national debate over press freedom and legal experts believe it may have violated state or federal law.
The lawsuit filed by Bentz claims that she was unlawfully detained, interrogated, and had her cellphone seized during the raid. She was preparing to run the payroll when Cody and other officers entered the building with a search warrant targeting the newspaper and its staff. The paper had been looking into why Cody left the Kansas City Police Department, where he was making nearly double the salary he was earning in Marion. Bentz expressed shock during the raid and the suit described it as “unprecedented” and “retaliatory.” Despite explaining that she was not directly involved in reporting, Bentz faced significant emotional toll from the raid and reduced her workload as a result.
The Marion Police Department’s raid on the newspaper office and Publisher Eric Meyer’s home has raised concerns about press freedom and the treatment of journalists. The lawsuits filed by the employees, including Bentz, highlight the impact of the raid on their personal and professional lives. The town of Marion, with a population of about 1,900 residents, became the focal point of a national discussion around the boundaries of press freedom and police conduct. The actions of the former police chief, Gideon Cody, in initiating the raid and his subsequent resignation have further fueled the controversy.
The lawsuit alleges that Bentz was caught in the crossfire of a retaliatory action by the police department and the town’s mayor, who is also named as a defendant in the case. Bentz’s reduced workload and emotional distress as a result of the raid demonstrate the lasting effects of such actions on individuals. The lawsuit seeks to hold the responsible parties, including Cody and other officers, accountable for their actions and violations of constitutional rights. The impact of the raid on the newspaper staff and their families cannot be understated, as it has caused significant turmoil and stress in their lives.
The Marion County Record, a small weekly newspaper, has been at the center of a controversy that has attracted national attention and sparked discussions about press freedom and police conduct. The actions taken by the Marion Police Department during the raid have raised questions about their motives and the legality of their actions. The employees of the newspaper, including Bentz, have taken legal action to seek justice and hold those responsible for the raid accountable. The lawsuit serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding press freedom and protecting the rights of journalists to investigate and report on matters of public interest without fear of retaliation or harassment.
