Marion County, Kansas, has agreed to pay more than $3 million and issue public apologies after the highly controversial 2023 police raid on the Marion County Record newspaper and several private homes. What began as a small-town dispute has since grown into a national story about press freedom, police overreach, and government accountability.
How the Raid Happened
In August 2023, officers from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Marion Police Department stormed the Record’s newsroom, the home of publisher Eric Meyer, and the home of former vice mayor Ruth Herbel. The raids were sparked by claims from a local restaurant owner, who accused the paper of illegally accessing information about her past DUI. But at the same time, the newspaper was investigating Police Chief Gideon Cody for alleged misconduct — a detail many now believe played a major role in what happened.
Officers seized computers, phones, reporting notes, and other equipment essential to the newspaper. The fallout was severe: the day after her home was raided, 98-year-old co-owner Joan Meyer died of a heart attack. Her family says the shock and stress of the raid contributed to her death.
Legal and Public Backlash
The raids were quickly condemned across the country as blatant violations of the First and Fourth Amendments. Legal experts pointed out the flimsy justification for the search warrants and the questionable use of computer-crime laws against journalists. Within days, local prosecutors admitted they didn’t have enough evidence to justify the raid.
Multiple lawsuits followed, accusing county and city officials of retaliation, destruction of evidence, and abuse of power. One allegation claimed that Chief Cody told the original complainant to delete text messages that may have incriminated him.
What the Settlement Covers
In November 2025, Marion County agreed to settle several of the lawsuits. The payments include:
- $1.2 million to Eric Meyer and the estate of his mother, Joan Meyer
- $650,000 to former vice mayor Ruth Herbel and her husband
- Around $900,000 split among two former reporters and the paper’s business manager
As part of the deal, the sheriff’s office issued a formal apology acknowledging the raid never should have happened and admitting that proper legal standards were not followed. The apologies were directed specifically to the Meyers and to the Herbels.
A Heavy Burden for a Small County
For a rural county of fewer than 2,000 residents, a multimillion-dollar payout is enormous. Taxpayers will ultimately fund the settlement, reigniting debates about whether individual officials — not the public — should bear financial responsibility for misconduct.
Meanwhile, investigations into former police chief Gideon Cody and other officials are still underway. Cody resigned amid the mounting backlash and evidence suggesting he played a central role in orchestrating the raid.
A Symbol for Press Freedom
Nationally, the Marion County raid has become a powerful example of how easily local authorities can misuse police power to intimidate journalists. Body-cam footage, public outrage, and Joan Meyer’s death have fueled demands for stronger protections for newsrooms everywhere.
For Eric Meyer, the settlement represents more than money. He has emphasized that the real victory is a public acknowledgment of wrongdoing — something he hopes will deter future abuses of power.
What’s Still Ahead
The settlement resolves the county’s portion of the lawsuits, but claims against the city of Marion and some officials are still pending. Criminal charges could still emerge once remaining investigations are complete.
Press-freedom advocates say the case has already left a lasting mark. Many see it as a turning point — a warning to law enforcement nationwide that targeting journalists carries serious consequences.