FLINT, MI - The former director of the state's Bureau of Epidemiology and State Epidemiologist allegedly told other state employees not to take action on a report showing a spike in blood lead levels in children in Flint then later told employees to delete emails about the data.

The former director, Corinne Miller, 65, of Dewitt, was one of six state employees charged with felonies on Friday, July 29 in connection to Flint's water crisis.

The charges were announced as warrants were sworn out before Flint District Judge Nathaniel C. Perry III and a news conference with Attorney General Bill Schuette followed shortly after at the University of Michigan-Flint.

"The families of Flint will not be forgotten," Attorney General Bill Schuette said. "Providing justice to families of Flint means accountability. Those who committed crimes will be held accountable."

Miller, previous director of the state's Bureau of Epidemiology and State Epidemiologist with the state Department of Health and Human Services, was charged with felony misconduct in office and conspiracy, along with misdemeanor neglect of duty by a public officer.

Miller retired in April.

Miller, along with Nancy Peeler and Robert Scott, knew children in Flint were being poisoned by lead and suppressed the information, special investigators with the Attorney General's Office allege.

Peeler was the director of the MDHHS Program fir Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting in July 2015 when she requested an internal report on blood lead levels in Flint children. The report was created on July 28 and showed a significant spike in blood lead tests for kids in Flint for the summer of 2014, the Schuette said.

That report was never passed on to the proper health officials, investigators allege.

Peeler and Robert L. Scott, the data manager for the Healthy Homes and Lead Prevention program, created a second report two days later that falsely indicated there was no significate rise blood lead levels of Flint children for the summer 2014.

Peeler, 54, of Midland was charged with felony misconduct in office and conspiracy, along with misdemeanor willful neglect of duty by a public officer.

Scott, 58, of Haslett, was charged with felony misconduct in office and conspiracy and misdemeanor willful neglect of duty.

Miller received the report first, but told others not to take action and snubbed other employees who asked about what to do next, Schuette said. She later told another MDHHS employee to delete emails concerning the original blood lead data report from July 28, 2015.

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality employee Liane Schekter-Smith, then chief of the Office of Drinking Water and Municipal Assistance, communicated with the MDHHS on the day of the original blood lead data report from July 28, 2015.

Shetker-Smith allegedly failed to take corrective action or notify public health officials and took steps to mislead and conceal evidence from health officials, according to Schuette.

Shetker-Smith, 56, of Marshall faces charges that include misconduct in office, a five-year felony, and misdemeanor willful neglect of duty.

Adam Rosenthal, 43, of East Lansing, worked in Shekter-Smith's department and was warned by Flint Water Treatment Plant officials that the city's plant was not ready for operations and was later warned by the Environmental Protection Agency that high levels of lead is usually because of particulate lead, which signifies a corrosion problem.

Rosenthal is accused of manipulating lead testing results and falsely reporting that the 90th percentile of the results for lead water testing was below the federal action level, investigators said.

Eventually, a July 28, 2015 report was changed to exclude some high lead tests and Rosenthal forwarded the altered report on. Previously charged MDEQ employees Stephen Busch and Michael Prysby also were allegedly involved, Schuette said.

"I've been involved in thousands of cases -- there isn't a case that has jarred my soul more than this for the lack of caring, lack of compassion, the lack of understanding that has affected the citizens of the city of Flint," said State special investigator Todd Flood. "Every time you turn the page, you say to yourself 'you can't make this up.'"

Rosenthal is charged with felonies that include misconduct in office, tampering with evidence or misconduct in office, tampering with evidence and misdemeanor willful neglect of duty.

Patrick Cook, 52, of Dewitt, is in charge of compliance for lead and copper monitoring with the MDEQ. In 2014, Cook signed a permit that was the last approval needed for use of the Flint Water Treatment Plant, Schuette said.

Cook was subsequently aware of the problems with Flint's water, investigators said, but took no corrective action. He also is accused of misleading the EPA in connection to the necessity of using corrosion control in Flint after the switch to Flint River Water.

Cook is charged with misconduct in office, conspiracy to commit misconduct in office and a misdemeanor charge of willful neglect of duty by a public officer.

The city was thrust into the national spotlight after elevated blood lead levels were discovered in some Flint children after the city changed its water source from Lake Huron water purchased from the Detroit water system to the Flint River in April 2014, a decision made while the city was run by a state-appointed emergency manager.

State regulators didn't require the river water be treated to make it less corrosive, causing lead from plumbing and pipes to leach into the water supply.

Residents are still being advised not to drink the tap water unless it is filtered as elevated lead levels continue to be detected around the city.

Flint Mayor Karen Weaver was not at Schuette's news conference, but Chief of Staff Steven Branch said she hopes for justice for residents.

"I think the mayor's position is she wants whoever is responsible to be held accountable," Branch said. "She would like to get to the bottom of this as well for the people of the city of Flint."