The result, Schuette said, “was water was poisoned”. She hadnt yet been charged but was reassigned after the water crisis came to light and her firing was announced in February.
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The switch was meant to save money, but instead created a public health crisis that continues more than two years later. The water, which wasnt treated to control corrosion, leached lead from aging pipes and fixtures as it flowed into homes and businesses in the city about 55 miles north of Detroit.
Environmental officials have admitted that they failed to require needed corrosion control chemicals in the water, which could have prevented the lead problem. Some experts think that a potentially fatal Legionnaires’ disease outbreak is tied to the water as well. They allegedly hid or disregarded test results that showed high lead levels in Flint residents’ blood.
“Scott and Peeler conspired together and with others known and unknown to effectively bury Larder’s report warranting further investigation”, Seipenko said Friday morning in court. From the first department Corinne Miller, Robert Scott, and Nancy Peeler, are being charged.
“.Peeler…requested an internal report on blood lead level data in Flint children”. He’s also accused of altering a July 28, 2015 report to exclude some high lead tests.
Five of the six people charged could not be reached immediately for comment.
The Flint Journal reports (http://bit.ly/2ajtAwQ ) a judge Friday authorized the charges filed by the office of Bill Schuette. They were criminally wrong to do so, and the victims are real people.
“I don’t get it. Lawsuits, I can understand”.
Shekter Smith’s attorney, Brian Morley, said Friday that he was surprised she was charged.
“Their offenses vary, but there’s an overall theme and repeated pattern”, Schuette said.
Within the Department of Environmental Quality, Schuette said that Cook and Rosenthal ignored reports that Flint’s 100-year-old drinking plant was not in compliance with lead and copper rules. Elevated levels of the toxin were discovered in children.
In April, Schuette filed felony charges against one City of Flint official and two MDEQ officials for tampering with evidence, among other charges.
Cook: 1 count wilful neglect of duty (misdemeanor: 1 year and/or $1,000); 1 count misconduct in office (felony: 5 years and/or $10,000); 1 count conspiracy (felony: 5 years and/or $10,000).
Facing charges of misconduct in office, tampering with evidence and willful neglect of duty.
Miller, Peeler and Scott have been charged with one count of misconduct in office, one count of conspiracy and one count of willful neglect of duty.
While some were shocked by the charges brought out on July 29, 2016, others want to see more action.
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Glasgow struck a plea deal with Schuette’s office in May, pleading no contest to a misdemeanor charge of willful neglect of duty after agreeing to cooperate with state and federal investigators.
