Prosecutors heading up the Flint water crisis criminal investigation will meet with city residents this week.
Friday’s town hall meeting will give residents a chance to better understand why prosecutors decided to drop charges against the remaining defendants in the water crisis probe.
Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said they were dismissing the charges, as part of an effort to review new evidence.
The charges were dismissed “without prejudice,” leaving the door open to recharge the eight defendants.
Many people in Flint were upset at the announcement that the criminal investigation was effectively returning to square oneafter three years.
Fifteen people were criminally charged during the probe. Seven cut plea deals with prosecutors. The 8 other defendants are now in alegal limbo. The charges against them were dismissed, but prosecutors may still file new charges.
The criminal investigation has been looking at the actions of state and local government officials during the Flint water crisis and a concurrent Legionnaires' Disease outbreak in Genesee County that killed at least a dozen people.
