23-year-old Daniel Chong, the UC San Diego student forced to drink his own urine for five days because he'd been left in a holding cell, has filed a $20 million lawsuit against the DEA.
The engineering student was swept up in a drug bust two weeks ago and forgotten about after other suspects were either arrested or released. During his five days of confinement, which his attorney Eugene Iredale describes as “torture,” Chong lost 15 pounds. After his discovery, he spent five days in the hospital recovering.
Yesterday, San Diego DEA overseer William R. Sherman issued an apologetic statement:
“I am deeply troubled by the incident that occurred here last week. 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. I have personally ordered an extensive review of our policies and procedures.”
NBC San Diego reported that Chong was told he could go home and even offered a ride by a DEA agent, so how he ended up alone in a cell for half a week is puzzling. The DEA is conducting an internal investigation to protect their neck and reputation.
[via LAist]
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