Illegal raids contribute to death of newspaper co-owner

[LiberalArkie]

Marion County Record

Stressed beyond her limits and overwhelmed by hours of shock and grief after illegal police raids on her home and the Marion County Record newspaper office Friday, 98-year-old newspaper co-owner Joan Meyer, otherwise in good health for her age, collapsed Saturday afternoon and died at her home.

She had not been able to eat after police showed up at the door of her home Friday with a search warrant in hand. Neither was she able to sleep Friday night.

She tearfully watched during the raid as police not only carted away her computer and a router used by an Alexa smart speaker but also dug through her son Eric’s personal bank and investments statements to photograph them. Electronic cords were left in a jumbled pile on her floor.

Joan Meyer’s ability to stream TV shows at her home and to get help through her Alexa smart speakers were taken away with the electronics.

Snip

http://marionrecord.com/direct/updated_illegal_raids_contribute_to_death_of_newspaper_co_owner+5447raid+555044415445443a20496c6c6567616c20726169647320636f6e7472696275746520746f206465617468206f66206e657773706170657220636f2d6f776e6572

[Think. Again.]

1. I hope that...

...the penalties for commiting federal crimes are severe when those crimes result in the death of the victim.

[jimfields33]

11. They had a search warrant.

The judge had to have cause. The woman may have been worried about what they’d find.

[muriel_volestrangler]

14. "Had to?" "Should have had". From the link:

A Record reporter later requested a copy of the probable cause affidavit necessary for issuance of the search warrant

District court, where such items are supposed to be filed, issued a signed statement saying no affidavit was on file.

County attorney Joel Ensey, whose brother owns the hotel where Newell operates her restaurant, was asked for it but said he would not release it because it was “not a public document.”

Magistrate Laura Viar may be in as much trouble as the police.

[LiberalArkie]

2. Comment from Reddit poster MisterFrontRow

9 hr. ago
That sounds right. As I understand it, this Kari Newell person not only had a drunk driving conviction, but she—again, this Kari Newell person—had repeatedly driven the vehicle that she—this Kari Newell person—owned without a valid driver’s license that she—this Kari Newell person—was required to have for the operation of a motor vehicle.

Additionally, I understand that local police frequently saw this Kari Newell person—who was convicted of drunk driving—operating her vehicle without the driver’s license that she—this Kari Newell person—was required to have. And even though local police saw this Kari Newell person driving without a license, they did not issue any traffic citations to this Kari Newell person.

Apparently this Kari Newell person posted on social media and confirmed that she was convicted of drunk driving and that she drove her vehicle without the license required of all citizens in the state, including this Kari Newell person.

Even though the newspaper opted not to run the story about this Kari Newell person’s drunk driving conviction, local police sought and obtained a search warrant and executed it on the newspaper offices and related locations acting as avenging angels for this Kari Newell person, despite the protections for the press enshrined in the First Amendment and federal law.

I’m willing to bet that this Kari Newell person will be single-handedly responsible for the police chief, police officers, and district judge losing their jobs AND a judgment that will cost the city or its insurer a metric crap ton of money. Great job by this Kari Newell person.

[LiberalArkie]

3. Excellant idea from a jimoconnell

8 hr. ago


You know what would be great? If lots and lots of people who don't even live near Kansas were to pay the $39 for an online subscription. That's what I'm doing and I've never even been to Kansas.

[GreenWave]

4. Kansas locals are acting like Gestapo

They didn't file the search warrant for "identity theft". And many other violations.

[PatSeg]

9. I don't think they ever anticipated

it would become a national story. They've probably gotten away with so much crap for so long, they weren't expecting any consequences.

[NBachers]

5. A conversation with Eric Meyer, the Marion County Record's owner.

https://thehandbasket.substack.com/p/a-conversation-with-the-newspaper

[PatSeg]

10. Wow, this is quite a story

Really unnerving.

[dalton99a]

12. +1

[GreenWave]

13. Corruption breeding more corruption.

This story reminds me of when I was living in their neighboring state of Missouri and met the granddaughter of I F Stone who used to report such as it should be. Topple the corrupt with the truth. The corrupt,as Judi Lynn shows in her threads esp. about Latin America, often just kill reporters to squelch the truth.

[Zambero]

6. These thugs may come to regret their actions

That poor woman did not deserve this. I understand that no warrants were served during these raids. Oh boy, the perpetrators had better lawyer up, as this is sounding like a criminal matter.

[Lonestarblue]

7. If Trump becomes president again, this is exactly what he will do to any media outlet that

criticizes him. Republicans want nothing more than a police state where they control every aspect of citizens’ lives.

[PatSeg]

8. Oh yes, beyond a doubt

He would storm in on Day One taking down anyone who ever criticized him. There would be no hesitation as he would know he could get away with it.