Prosecutors said that they had grave concerns about the investigative approach and legal theories embraced by the former Office of Special Counsel (OSC) that oversaw the investigation, according to a press release issued by the Michigan Department of Attorney General. The OSC was appointed by former Attorney General Bill Schuette. The OSC entered into agreements that gave private law firms that were representing the accused a role in deciding what information would be turned over to law enforcement, according to the release."We cannot provide the citizens of Flint the investigation they rightly deserve by continuing to build on a flawed foundation," said Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy, who are now leading the criminal cases.Prosecutors noted in the press release that "the voluntary dismissal is not a determination of any defendant's criminal responsibility." Prosecutors are not precluded from refiling charges against the defendants in the future.A community conversation in Flint has been scheduled for June 28, where Hammoud and Worthy will speak directly to the people of Flint.
Residents feel blindsided
Melissa Mays, 40, a Flint resident and founder of local advocacy group Water You Fighting For, told CNN that she first learned of the dismissal through a call from a New York Times reporter. "I was horrified. I felt blindsided," she said, "the way we saw the message delivered today is hurtful. It was retraumatizing." Mays said that her family is currently saving up for a water filtration system. "We have constant fear that this will never be fixed. It's not fair. We didn't ask to be poisoned," she said.Karen Weaver, Mayor of the City of Flint, said the dismissal gave her hope for restoring justice."I am happy to see that this case is being handled with the seriousness and dogged determination that it should have been handled with from the beginning," Weaver said in a statement to CNN.Weaver called the mishandling of legal evidence of the former prosecution team "an entire administration's clear lack of respect for human life and common decency, another attempt to cover up what should have never happened to begin with."But many residents are frustrated. MoniRead More – Source
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