Posted on 07/30/2013 6:54:57 PM PDT by DogByte6RER
Student forgotten in DEA holding cell gets $4.1M
SAN DIEGO — A UCSD student scooped up in a drug raid and left in a Drug Enforcement Administration holding cell for 4 1/2 days without food or water will get $4.1 million to settle his claims, his attorneys announced Tuesday.
Daniel Chong, 25, was among seven people detained in an April 21, 2012, raid on a University City home. Chong, an student at UCSD, was handcuffed and put in 5-by-10-foot cell, by an officer who told him, “Hang tight. We’ll come get you in a minute,” his attorney Julia Yoo said.
The door to the cell was not opened again until April 25. Chong had no food water or toilet facilities during that period and he spent the last two days in darkness, Yoo said.
When he was freed, Chong was taken to a hospital for acute kidney failure, muscle degeneration and dehydration. He spent three days in intensive care and was released after five, Yoo said
Chong said Tuesday his body is healing and he expects to graduate next year.
“It was an accident — a really, really bad, horrible accident” Chong said at the offices of his attorneys, Eugene Iredale and Julia Yoo.
He said he did what he had to, including drinking his own urine. He said he kicked the door, screamed, begged and tried to get someone’s attention. He said he made repeated but futile attempts to set off a fire sprinkler system.
“I was screaming. I was completely insane,” Chong said.
In the months following his ordeal, Chong was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder from his “near death experience,” his other lawyer, Eugene Iredale, explained.
An investigation as to what went wrong is underway. “What happened to Daniel Chong should never happen to any human being on the face of the planet,” Iredale said.
In the raid, federal agents seized about 18,000 ecstasy pills, some marijuana and some weapons.
Iredale said the government acknowledged responsibility, apologized to Chong and has created policies about handling detainees and checking on their welfare in holding cells.
The Department of Justice settled with Chong out of court, he said.
“It changed my perception quite a bit. My life, I am just continuing my life,” Chong said when asked how the experience changed him.
Chong plans to buy his mother a new home and save the rest of the settlement money.
$4.1 million to this poor guy. Beware ... what the the DEA giveth, the IRS taketh away
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Well maybe not. There are some awards that are not taxable.
Does this mean he's still an Obamatron?
The pot smoker's named Chong. You have GOT to be bagging me.
Uh, how many of the ‘feds’ who caused this have been brought up on criminal charges?
did the DEA pay him or did the taxpayer pay him?
Sooner or later they will build the ovens or a modern day equivalent. JMHO!
Yep, sounds funny.
And how about Anthony Weiner’s name, considering what he has been doing?
Sometimes truth seems stranger than fiction.
The guard, named “Dave” knocked and he asked “Who is it?” When the guard said “Dave” he said “Dave’s not here,” so the guard went away.
Your damn right it shouldn't, and $4.1 million is more symbolic than anything else - and everyone knows it.
perhaps there is a clause in the settlement about him having to say nice things about the gubermint. Something Col. Cathcart and LtC Korn tried to get Yossarian to do in Catch-22. remember, “just be our pal”
$4.1 million from the taxpayers seems like an injustice to me
taxpayers should not be punished for this crap
The DEA’s version of an oubliette.
Test Run.
$4.1million for 1 kid in the Gulag —
those numbers will be reversed when they get the FEMA camps up.
$1 for the millions after “reeducation”
Ho Li Kao !!!
“An investigation as to what went wrong is underway. “ Always. You can count on it. Who got charged with criminal negligence? Nobody? Well then who got fired? Oh, can’t say because the investigation is still ongoing. I see.
Land of the Free!
“So, the taxpayer pays again, and government employees SKATE BY once again.”
Correct. I cannot imagine how such a thing ever happened. In NYC you have to arraigned within 72 hours.
We MUST end the unionization of public employees at all levels and an ALL roles.
These people are held to no standards at all.
judgements usually are not taxed as income.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.