The police chief responsible for a controversial raid on a local newspaper in Marion, Kansas has resigned, according to the city’s mayor. Marion Police Department Chief Gideon Cody stepped down on Monday, though no further details were provided. Officer Zach Hudlin has been appointed as acting police chief in Cody’s absence. The raid, which took place in August, drew widespread criticism from news organizations and press freedom advocates, as officers confiscated computers and cell phones from the newspaper. The incident is currently under investigation, and the former police chief is facing a federal lawsuit filed by a reporter who accuses him of violating her constitutional rights.
In addition to Cody’s resignation, the judge who authorized the search warrant for the raid is also facing backlash. Judge Laura Viar, who signed off on the warrant, has been asked to respond to a complaint about her decision. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has taken over the investigation into the raid, and the seized materials have been returned following a withdrawal of the search warrants by the county’s top prosecutor. The raid was initially believed to be in relation to an investigation into “identity theft,” but the newspaper’s publisher claims it was prompted by a story about a local restaurant owner. It remains to be seen how these events will unfold and what consequences they will have on the individuals involved.
