Three Officials Charged Over Flint Crisis

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced Wednesday that he filed charges against three state and local officials in connection to the lead contamination crisis in Flint.

He “accused two state environmental officials and a Flint water administrator of crimes that caused the tainting of Flint’s drinking water — and vowed more individuals will face prosecution from his wide-ranging probe of the public health crisis,” The Detroit News reported.

The following people were charged, according to Schuette’s office:

• Stephen Busch, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality District 8 Water Supervisor (3 felonies, 2 misdemeanor)
• Michael Prysby, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality District 8 Water Engineer (4 felonies, 2 misdemeanor)
• Michael Glasgow, City of Flint Laboratory and Water Quality Supervisor (1 felony, 1 misdemeanor)

The felonies could bring up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Schuette said these charges are "only the beginning and there will be more to come,” according to Reuters. "That I can guarantee you."

"I've said this before and it bears repeating: so many things went so terribly wrong, and tragically wrong, in Flint," Schuette said, according to NPR.

When asked if Michigan Governor Rick Snyder will be charged, Schuette said nothing was off the table, according to Reuters.

Residents reacted to the charges with a mix of hope and skepticism, according to the Detroit Free Press.

“In a city deeply distrustful of government at all levels, residents appear optimistic that justice may be served, yet skeptical that the investigation by Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette will rise higher in the chain of command of the administration of Gov. Rick Snyder,” the report said.

Flint officials still have their work cut out for them as they try to address the crisis.

“Despite official assurances, many residents of this city of 100,000 still refuse to bathe or shower in the water, much less drink from their taps. Many are using filters during this federal state of emergency,” the Detroit Free Press reported.

“In 2014, while the city was under the control of state-appointed emergency managers, Flint officials switched the water supply from Lake Huron to the Flint River,” NPR reported.

To read all of our coverage from Flint’s lead crisis, visit Water Online’s Drinking Water Contaminant Removal Solutions Center.