There has been a break-in at the Flint, Michigan office where documents related to the lead poisoned water are being stored. And it wasn’t just any office—it was an office in the mayor's suite:
Flint police previously reported a break-in at City Hall, 1101 S. Saginaw St. over the holiday break, but information released Monday, Jan. 11, confirmed the break-in happened at a vacant executive office in the mayor's suite that contained documents related to the city's water system.
"The office that was broken into is where some water files are kept," Flint Mayor Karen Weaver said. "However, at this point it's hard to tell if any files were taken. The only thing we know for sure was stolen is a TV."
Were other offices robbed? No:
The break-in was discovered Dec. 28 by an employee when they returned from work following the holiday break. No other offices were disturbed.
"The video doesn't show anything," Tolbert said. "Officers are now doing a security survey."
The break-in happened just days before the U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade confirmed a federal investigation into the city's deadly water contamination.
It's probably just a coincidence that this break-in occurred in the mayor's suite, in the one office containing the documents relating to the lead poisoning of residents, with no other offices burglarized, just days before confirmation the federal government is officially investigating.
In September, Michigan doctors issued a dire warning to residents about the extremely dangerous levels of lead in the community water. The investigation has grown and Governor Rick Snyder declared a state of emergency last week. The Detroit Free Press has called the response shameful:
Right now, the State of Michigan should be able to say that it has ensured the delivery of bottled water and water filters to every Flint resident whose drinking water has been contaminated by lead. Right now, the State of Michigan should be able to say it has taken the first steps to craft nutritional and educational interventions for lead-poisoned Flint kids. Right now, the State of Michigan should be able to say it is using funds made available by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to replace aging lead water service lines in Flint.
Instead, the governor is offering placid responses and slow-walking important remedies, while the investigation into how one of Michigan’s greatest man-made public health crises unfolded comes up with explanations in dribs and drabs.