The recent raid of a small family-owned newspaper by the Marion Police Department in Kansas has sparked concern from journalists and news organizations nationwide.

Police also searched the homes of its owners and publisher and seized a number of computers and cell phones belonging to journalists.

Watchdog groups say this a blatant violation of the Constitutional protections of a free press.It is extremely rare for police to raid newsrooms in the United States.

Journalists are protected under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and have the right to publish information without censorship or prior restraint.

The press is required to obey laws surrounding libel, obscenity and copyright.

Police say they raided the offices because a local restaurant owner said her privacy was invaded by the newspaper and a search warrant, signed by a local judge, lists the restaurateur as the victim of alleged crimes by the newspaper.The restaurant owner says she threw out one of the paper’s reporters during an earlier political event and claims the newspaper unlawfully sought information on the status of her driver’s license and a DUI charge.

The newspaper said the information was obtainable through public online records.

The paper’s publisher says their offices were targeted because of the newspaper’s aggressive coverage of the police chief and local politics.

The newspaper requested a copy of the probable cause affidavit required by law to issue a search warrant. In a signed statement, the district court said no such affidavit was on file and the police chief said the affidavit would be available “once charges are filed.”

Press freedom and civil rights organizations are watching the case closely and believe police overstepped their authority.

The newspaper’s owner also blames the police raid for the ‘stress’ death of his 98-year-old mother, who was a part owner of the paper.

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