Posted on 05/02/2012 2:23:47 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
The Drug Enforcement Administration has apologized to a San Diego college student who said he drank his own urine to survive after being left in a holding cell for five days without food, water or access to a toilet.
The man, identified by news outlets as 23-year-old UC San Diego engineering student Daniel Chong, was “accidentally” left in the holding cell after he and eight other people were detained for questioning following an April 21 raid in which agents found guns, ammunition and an array of drugs, including 18,000 ecstasy pills, the DEA said.
“I am deeply troubled by the incident that occurred here last week,” William R. Sherman, acting special agent in charge of DEA's San Diego Division, said in a statement Wednesday.
“I extend my deepest apologies [to] the young man and want to express that this event is not indicative of the high standards that I hold my employees to,” Sherman said, adding he has ordered “an extensive review” of DEA policies and procedures.
Identified by the DEA only as “the individual in question,” Chong and the others were swept up during a raid of a suspected ecstasy distribution operation and taken to DEA area headquarters, the agency said.
All of the suspects were fingerprinted, photographed and interviewed individually, as agents moved them among the five cells at the DEA post.
After processing, seven of the nine were taken to a county detention facility, one was released and Chong was “accidentally left in one of the cells,” the DEA said, without elaborating.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimesblogs.latimes.com ...
Think he’ll be involved in an Ecstasy distribution ring anymore?
The article says there were only five cells at the DEA post. This is tantamount to locking him up to die. Heads should roll.
The DEA agents were on drugs.
Oh, well they apologized.
That makes EVERyTHING aaallll bettter!!
I doubt he was involved in ecstasy distribution in the first place. Since he wasn’t processed and moved to a jail, I think more likely than not he is a recreational drug user who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
End drug-warrior speak.
Maybe the DEA things euthanasia is for Asians only.
Where was his buddy Cheech?
If "original intent" counts for anything at all, they at least owe James Madison one.
If "original intent" counts for anything at all, they at least owe James Madison one.
After the multiple millions of dollars he'll make from the lawsuit he won't have to distribute illegal drugs....
Is this a great country or what??!!
They won't have to apologize, but they will have to give him lots of taxpayer money....
Outrageous! They happened to leave some white power in the cell with him. In addition he could hear their voices outside the cell and they couldn’t hear him yelling for help?
I am not so certain this was an accident.
Wouldn't that be nice? The world has seen enough totalitarianism.
It is past time to end the shield against PERSONAL criminal and civil liability for law enforcement. Abuses such as these will only stop when cops, and federal agents end up in orange jump suits. Not fired, not suspended. Jailed and placed in general population of max security.
Just this week a guy was arrested and jailed for using counterfeit currency. Turns out it was an old bill. The officer apologized and the suspect was released. Just another day at the office for the Police Officer. A life changing horror for the innocent suspect.
These guys won’t be so arrogant and quick to arrest citizens if a few of them go to a maximum security prison and enjoy the other side, and have civil judgments rendered against them such that they are forced into personal bankruptcy.
We need personal criminal and civil culpability for law enforcement and district Attorney’s. It would change the world we live in and change it RIGHT NOW!
“We need personal criminal and civil culpability for law enforcement and district Attorney’s.”
I’d settle for an independent review agency that had the power to pull these guys badges. If you had even that you’d see a huge change in the attitude of these guys. As it is you don’t even get that as most “internal” investigations are just cover ups.
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.