Flint Water Crisis Investigation: Things Went Terribly Wrong

A former prosecutor will head an investigation into the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, officials announced Monday, just moments before the U.S. State Attorney General announced at a press conference that “things went terribly wrong” in the city with poisoned water.

"Things went so terribly wrong. I think what happened is that confidence in government was shattered, and I understand that," state's attorney general Bill Schuette said, according to ABC News. 

"You don't rebuild regain and restore trust overnight, it takes time," he added.

 Schuette said Wayne County former assistant prosecutor Todd Flood will head the investigation with the support of former Detroit FBI head Andy Arena.

“This investigation is about beginning the road back, to rebuild, regain and restore trust in government,” Schuette said, according to the Associated Press.

The investigation will seek to determine whether any government officials committed any crime in connection with a massive water contamination crisis that has left the city of Flint's water undrinkable.

Earlier this month, the state of Michigan called a state of emergency in Flint — which lies about 60 miles (100 kilometers) northwest of Detroit — after toxic drinking water was found to be affecting the population, causing elevated levels of lead in children.

The move followed a similar one by Flint Mayor Karen Weaver, who declared a state of emergency in December and called the issue a “man made disaster.”

Flint’s water source was switched from the Detroit water system to the unfiltered and corrosive Flint River water in 2014 in a bid to save money. The city switched back to Detroit water again in October, but by that time some residents had been drinking the water for 19 months.

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At least 10 people have died from the mainly water-borne Legionnaires' disease in Flint, but it is not yet known whether these deaths were linked to the toxins were found in the water supply.

Many residents are now relying on emergency water supplies. Last week a local right-wing militia involved in water distribution forged an unlikely alliance with one of Flint's most well know locals – progressive film maker Michael Moore.

Moore and the Genesee County Volunteer Militia are coordinating political rallies to demand accountability for the water crisis, according to the Detroit Free Press.

“We don't see eye-to-eye on many things,” militia member Dave McKellar told the publication.

“For him to step forward and say something good... this time I agree with him,” he said.

McKellar added, “We're trying to coordinate so the protests don't stop.”

WATCH: US City Declares State of Emergency over Lead-Contaminated Water