Newspaper co-owner, 98, collapses and dies after being left ‘overwhelmed’ by a ‘Gestapo-esque’ police raid to seize documents from her office and home

The co-owner of local newspaper Marion County Record has died after being “traumatized” by a police raid on his home that was given the go-ahead to seize information about a story that hadn’t even been published.

Joan Meyer, 98, collapsed and died after the intense stress and grief she felt when her home was raided by the entire Kansas Marion Police Department.

The elderly woman, who co-owned the newspaper with her son Eric, was subjected to the raid on Friday by five officers and two deputies – leaving her “stressed beyond her limits and overwhelmed by hours of shock and grief.”

Eric has been berating the officers for their “Gestapo” tactics in an attempt to get their hands on information that hadn’t even gone to the press yet. Police have defended their actions.

Ms. Meyer was unable to eat or sleep after the traumatizing hours-long ordeal. She cried as the police raided her home and took her Alexa smart speaker – and died a day later.

The raid came after a source leaked sensitive documents to the newspaper about local restaurateur Kari Newell having her liquor license revoked.

Meyer didn’t publicize the Newell story because he questioned its source — and instead told police about the information.

But Kari Newell then accused the paper of illegally obtaining her personal information, leading to the search.

Announcing the woman’s death, the newspaper’s website said: “She had been unable to eat after the police showed up at the door of her home. She couldn’t sleep Friday night either.

“She watched in tears as the police not only took away her computer…but also searched her son Eric’s personal bank and investment statements.”

Eric Meyer – her son, and the co-owner and publisher of the Marion County Record, said, ‘Our number one priority is to be able to publish next week.

“But we also want to make sure that no other news organization is ever exposed to the Gestapo tactics we witnessed today.”

The woman was “in good health” for her age, but died over the weekend.

Police also raided the newspaper’s office, Meyer’s home, and the home of one of the reporters. They took vital publishing equipment, including computers and telephones.

Meyer told the Daily beast: ‘All raids seemed to be simultaneous.’

According to the search warrant for the Marion County Record Office obtained by the Reflectorofficers claim the raid stems from an investigation into unlawful acts related to a computer and identity theft.

The warrant was signed by Magistrate Judge Laura Viar.

According to the Marion County Record Office search warrant, officers were allowed to seize digital communications, computer software, and items containing passwords or access codes during the raid.

The elderly woman, who co-owned the newspaper, was subjected to a raid by five officers and two deputies on Friday, leaving her “stressed beyond her limits and overwhelmed by hours of shock and grief.”

According to the search warrant for the Marion County Record Office obtained by the Reflector, officers claim the raid is the result of an investigation into unlawful acts involving a computer and identity theft

All correspondence and documents ‘relating to Kari Newell’ had to be taken.

Meyer told the newspaper, “Basically, all law enforcement officers on duty in Marion County, Kansas, came to our offices today and seized our server and computers and personal cell phones of employees, all because of a story we didn’t publish.”

The newspaper said it planned to file a federal lawsuit.

Danny Karon, an adjunct professor at Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law, told The Daily Beast, “The raid was chilling and unprecedented, like a scene from Nazi Germany in 1945.”

Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody said in a statement: “As much as I would love to give everyone details of a criminal investigation, I can’t.

“I believe that when the rest of the story is available to the public, the justice system being questioned will be vindicated.

Generally speaking, the federal privacy protection law, 42 USC §§ 2000aa-2000aa-12, protects journalists from most newsroom searches by federal and state law enforcement.

It is true that in most cases police should use subpoenas rather than search warrants to search journalists’ premises, unless they themselves are suspected of the crime that is the subject of the search.

“The Marion Kansas Police Department believes it is the fundamental duty of the police to ensure the safety, security and well-being of all members of the public.

“This commitment must remain steadfast and unbiased, unaffected by political or media influence, to uphold the principles of justice, equal protection and the rule of law for all in the community.

“The victim is asking that we do everything the law allows to ensure that justice is served.”