Former Police Chief Charged with Obstruction of Justice

A former central Kansas police chief who led a raid last year on a weekly newspaper has been charged with felony obstruction of justice. The charge alleges that he persuaded a potential witness to withhold information about his conduct during the raid.

The single charge against former Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody states that he influenced the witness to withhold information on the day of the raid of the Marion County Record and the home of its publisher, or sometime within the following six days.

Last week, two special prosecutors mentioned text messages between Cody and a business owner following the raid. The business owner claimed Cody asked her to delete text messages between them, out of concern for their professional relationship being misunderstood.

The raid was initially justified by Cody based on allegations of identity theft and computer crimes committed by the newspaper’s publisher and a reporter. However, the prosecutors later determined that no crime was committed by the individuals and that Cody’s conclusion was based on a flawed investigation.

Police body-camera footage from the raid showed the publisher’s elderly mother becoming upset, and she passed away the next day. While no charges were filed in relation to her death, the publisher attributed her passing to the stress caused by the raid.

Overall, the charge against Cody highlights the complexities and controversies surrounding the raid and its aftermath, shedding light on the challenges faced by law enforcement in ensuring justice and transparency.