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FLINT, MI – Attorneys working with the families of two children killed in a wildfire in Flint are vowing to move forward with a civil lawsuit against the city, its fire department and two firefighters spent a full month at the scene of the fire. even if the children are still inside.
Robert Kenner Jr. Attorneys and Todd Flood announced their participation in a civil lawsuit during a press conference on Friday, November 4, and Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton later confirmed that they have also filed his office to the Michigan State Police to conduct “a full investigation into what happened” at the scene of the fire on May 28.
Flood, a former special prosecutor in criminal cases related to the Flint water crisis, said he has spoken with doctors and fire experts since becoming involved in the case, reaching concluded that evidence had been tampered with and that all information about the fire had never been released. said.
Two brothers — Zyaire Mitchell, 12, and Lamar Mitchell, 9 — died from injuries they suffered in a house fire on West Pulaski Street. Both were alive when they were taken from the home — about 6 minutes after the moon was read.
Flint Fire Chief Raymond Barton wrote that the boys were placed in the building without reason after two firefighters, one a retired sergeant and the other beaten, said it was clear all, and later found out that they had lied that the second floor of the home had been searched, and the continued search for the twin victims ended.
Barton initially called for the two firefighters to be fired — a decision that was later overturned by what the fire chief said was a “consultation” with City Attorney William Kim, the Director of Civil Services and Eddie Smith, and City Manager Clyde Edwards.
Flood said there is reason to believe the boys would have survived the fire if they had been found during the initial search of the home.
“Every doctor I’ve talked to … says that a minute is the difference between life and death and a second of smoke,” Flood said Friday.
The Mitchell brothers were found six minutes after the full moon was announced. Other firefighters found Flint, working to clear smoke and debris from the home.
Leyton said Friday that he met with Crystal Cooper, the mother of the Mitchell brothers, and agreed to a request for an MSP investigation into crimes related to the fire response.
The prosecutor said he had not received an arrest warrant request from Flint police but told Cooper he would look into whether criminal charges were warranted.
“I’ll keep my word,” Leyton said Friday.
Some Flint City Council members said Mayor Sheldon Neeley’s involvement in the case has not been fully explained, and last month, the council voted 5-0 to begin a separate investigation into the situation related to the punishment meted out to firefighters.
about: Flint council wants investigation into firefighters’ handling of deadly Pulaski Street fire
Speaking at a news conference Friday, across Pierson Street from the Flint fire station, Cooper said his family wants answers and justice.
“Every day it’s hard to know that I’m not going to see (my sons) again …,” Cooper said. “I’m just asking for a thorough investigation because there’s a lot of cover-up going on (and I want) justice for my sons.”
Neeley’s administration said in a statement to the Journal on Friday evening that “there is no credibility to the allegation of a cover-up” in the fire investigation.
“Of course, the city of Flint does not comment on pending litigation,” the statement said. “However, as our community grieves for the children lost in the … fire, we are called to provide the highest level of understanding and accountability.
“The loss of children is the greatest level of tragedy that any family can endure, and we are still mourning their loss. We are sorry to see this family’s grief being used for political gain.
The statement said the city “has met its obligations under federal and state law and its collective bargaining agreements” to rehabilitate firefighters and “is very clear about the give the right information.”
“We continue to honor this family in prayer, and we are saddened to see their suffering,” the statement continued.
Neeley is running for re-election on Tuesday, Nov. 8, against former Mayor Karen Weaver, who attended Friday’s news conference.
Weaver said in a news release last week that he was “disturbed, disappointed, and angry about the lack of clarity” from the mayor’s office about the fire, particularly as to why the change was made. said Barton’s first order to stop the firemen.
According to Barton’s report, two firefighters said the fire was all but extinguished — Sgt. Daniel Sniegocki and Michael Zlotek — each lied about their actions at the scene, and that their “actions and inactions may have contributed to the deaths of the two victims” while breaking “the good name of the office.”
According to the fire chief’s report, while walking through the home, he saw no signs that a search had been made in one of the rooms on the second floor in accordance with the firefighter’s training. office, and said that a bed was still made with furniture that was not disturbed. .
A representative of Flint Firefighters Local 352 said the two men became scapegoats in the case even though they didn’t search a small room on the second floor because of the high heat and poor visibility.
Sniegocki left his position with the city after the fire, and Zlotek was placed on unpaid leave, a two-week suspension and required to complete a rehab course. eight-hour search-and-rescue.
The estate of Lamar Mitchell filed a lawsuit against the two firefighters, the city and the Flint Fire Department last month in Genesee Circuit Court.
Flood and Kenner said Friday that the lawsuit could be dismissed and renewed or changed after they review the case.
Read more at The Flint Document:
Flint firefighters extinguished the flames, but the children were still inside
One Flint firefighter resigns, another charged for role in morgue fire
The home fire that killed two Flint children was caused by faulty wiring, investigators say
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