Three Michigan officials face criminal charges in Flint toxic water crisis

U.S. Attorney's office in Detroit Wednesday filed criminal charges against two state officials and one city employee involved in Flint's water contamination crisis.

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) District Engineer Michael Prysby faces six charges; Stephen Busch, DEQ's Office of Drinking Water's Lansing and Jackson district supervisor, faces five charges; and Michael Glasgow, Flint's utilities administrator, faces two charges, the Detroit News reported.

They were charged with felonies, misdemeanors, tampering with evidence and other offenses over the lead contamination that has alarmed local residents.

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette is scheduled to detail the charges at press conference in downtown Flint on Wednesday.

Flint, a city northwest of Detroit in Michigan, switched off Detroit's Lake Huron water supply in April 2014 and turned to the Flint River as an interim source while a new regional pipeline was built.

Residents immediately complained about the water's color and odor, and independent investigators discovered elevated lead levels in the water and blood of children.

The State of Michigan initially downplayed people's concerns, but eventually confirmed finding lead in Flint water supply in October and began taking steps to address the crisis.

As a result, the State Department of Environmental Quality Director Dan Wyant and department spokesman Brad Wurfel resigned; former head of the DEQ's Office of Drinking Water and Municipal Assistance Liane Shekter Smith has been fired. Michigan Governor Rick Snyder called for an investigation into the health department.

U.S. Attorney's office in Detroit started investigating into Flint water crisis in January this year, along with the Environmental Protection Agency.

The indictments are "the first of more to come," the Detroit News quoted a source familiar with the ongoing investigation. Endit