By Caleb Holloway
Flint - A Michigan judge dismissed cases (click here) against seven defendants facing criminal charges in the Flint water crisis Tuesday, including two former state health officials blamed for nine deaths linked to Legionnaires' disease.
The cases against the following individuals were dismissed by Judge Elizabeth Kelly:
The cases against the following individuals were dismissed by Judge Elizabeth Kelly:
Jarrod Agen
Gerald Ambrose
Richard Board
Darnell Earley
Former state health director Nicolas "Nick" Lyon
Nancy Peeler
Former chief medical executive Eden Wells
Simply put, there are no valid charges,” Kelly said.
Kelly's actions occurred three months after the Michigan Supreme Court ruled a one-judge grand jury had no authority to issue indictments. She said the indictments issued against the defendants were invalid and the charging process was void, ruling the cases are dismissed without prejudice. Kelly rejected the typical path to filing felony charges in Michigan. She rebuffed efforts by the attorney general's office to just send the cases to Flint District Court and turn them into criminal complaints.
The ruling from the Circuit Court was provided to WEYI by Attorney Chip Chamberlain, praising Kelly's decision and urging the attorney general's office to close a “misguided prosecution.”...
Gerald Ambrose
Richard Board
Darnell Earley
Former state health director Nicolas "Nick" Lyon
Nancy Peeler
Former chief medical executive Eden Wells
Simply put, there are no valid charges,” Kelly said.
Kelly's actions occurred three months after the Michigan Supreme Court ruled a one-judge grand jury had no authority to issue indictments. She said the indictments issued against the defendants were invalid and the charging process was void, ruling the cases are dismissed without prejudice. Kelly rejected the typical path to filing felony charges in Michigan. She rebuffed efforts by the attorney general's office to just send the cases to Flint District Court and turn them into criminal complaints.
The ruling from the Circuit Court was provided to WEYI by Attorney Chip Chamberlain, praising Kelly's decision and urging the attorney general's office to close a “misguided prosecution.”...
It is difficult enough to realize in an American city the water supply was simply out of control, in cost and quality. Then to realize the State of Michigan with then Republican Governor Rick Snyder in control of the business of the state simply disregarded the problems manifesting in Flint for over one year. That is what is so disturbing about the Flint Water Crisis.
Snyder had to know what was transpiring because of the deaths by Legionnaire's Disease. That is a rare occurrence in the USA. The bacteria only manifests in specific situations. There is reporting of deaths from Legionnaire's Disease. They knew and persisted with the outrageous financial plans at the cost of health of the people of Flint.
It is blatant racism. I don't see it any other way. There were people at the highest levels of government simply looking the other way because it was Flint, Michigan and a minority town. The arrogance that went along with the poisoned water is a criminal act. People were responsible for these deaths as well as the damage to the children and people bathing in that water and in the beginning drinking it. Government's first obligation is to the safety of citizens. It is why they are elected, not to the tax man or some idea of a balanced budget for every city in the state, but, to the well being of the people, especially children.
The lack of accountability for the Flint Water Crisis is simply nothing that makes sense to most people. The water was altered intentionally for the sake of a balance budget in Flint. That completely lacks conscience and no one is held responsible yet.
October 4, 2022
By Dawn Jones
Flint - For more than eight years (click here) since the Flint water crisis began, Claudia Perkins has been on the front lines letting her voice be heard.
She was outraged on Tuesday that no one is being held criminally responsible for the crisis after a Genesee County judge dismissed charges against seven of the nine defendants.
The ruling from Judge Elizabeth Kelly came after the Michigan Supreme Court ruled in August that the one-man grand jury process used to file charges against nine suspects is improper and the indictments are invalid.
"It's appalling," Perkins said....
While Claudia Perkins is a water crisis advocate she would also like to have a responsible role with the children in town by running for the Flint School Board.
