The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has taken the lead role in the investigation regarding the local newspaper in Marion, which was raided by local officials on August 11th.

The KBI said that it would review prior actions and determine how to proceed with the case.

Police entered the office of the Marion County Record as well as the home of the paper’s owner on Friday, seizing computers, cell phones and reporting materials.   Record reporter Deb Gruver stated in a post on Facebook that Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody grabbed her cellphone out of her hand, re-injuring a finger that had been dislocated earlier.  Gruver said she gave information about the incident to the KBI.

The chief has said his department’s actions will be vindicated “when the rest of the story is available.” It was revealed over the weekend that the paper’s co-owner, 98-year-old mother Joan Meyer, died shortly after the raid. Her son said she was “stressed beyond her limits and overwhelmed by hours of shock and grief.” The Meyer family has run the Marion County Record for 25 years.   The newspaper is promising a lawsuit over Joan Meyer’s death, and our news partners at KWCH have reported that an attorney for the newspaper has sent a letter to Chief Cody demanding the return of the materials that were seized.

Dozens of news outlets and press advocates have condemned the raid.  The Washington Post, the New York Times, and 32 other entities have signed on to a letter accusing Marion police of violating federal law which protects against newsroom searches. They’re asking authorities to return the seized materials to the paper and its reporters.

It was reported that the raid was a response to the newspaper’s efforts to gather information on a local restaurant owner, but the newspaper said nothing was published as a result of that investigation.