The former police chief in Marion said the search warrants used in a raid on the local newspaper were reviewed by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, and he was not told of any problems.
Gideon Cody made the claims in a response filed to a lawsuit filed against him by Marion County Record reporter Deb Gruver. The lawsuits were filed over a raid that was conducted on the newspaper office on August 11th. The raid drew national and international attention and criticism from press freedom organizations.
Cody, who recently resigned as chief, said the KBI never told him that his affidavits or the warrants lacked probable cause. He said he was looking into possible identity theft and unlawful acts regarding computers.
The KBI has taken over the investigation of the case, and Cody said in his filing that this is a conflict of interest since the KBI had reviewed the warrants. The search warrants were later withdrawn by the Marion County Attorney due to insignificant evidence.
