Pubdate: Sun, 13 Jul 2014
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Copyright: 2014 Los Angeles Times
Contact:  http://www.latimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248
Author: Tony Perry
Page: A27

MAN DEA HELD WANTS REPORT OUT

Daniel Chong Was Forgotten in a Cell for Five Days Without Food or Water.

SAN DIEGO - Two years after law-enforcement negligence almost killed 
him, Daniel Chong said he is living "a pretty quiet life" and remains 
appreciative for being "alive and well."

But, like his attorneys, he wants released the full investigative 
report about his ordeal at the Drug Enforcement Administration 
facility in San Diego. A three-page summary was released last week.

"Nobody set out to say 'we're going to kill this young person' but it 
almost happened," said attorney Eugene Iredale, who appeared with 
Chong at a news conference Thursday.

The people most responsible for leaving Chong in a cell for five days 
should face at least administrative punishment, Iredale said.

In April 2012, Chong, then a 23-year-old engineering student at UC 
San Diego, was swept up in a raid by DEA agents.

The DEA was after suspected dealers and Chong had dropped by the 
house of some friends to smoke marijuana.

Taken to the DEA headquarters in San Diego, Chong was interrogated 
and put in a small, windowless cell and told that an agent would be 
back in a few minutes, presumably to release him.

Instead Chong was forgotten for five days without food, water or 
bathroom facilities. He yelled without success. Midway through the 
five days, someone turned off the light in the cell.

"This was a windowless room," Iredale said. "He was in darkness for 2 
1 2 days. There really has to be some accountability."

By the time someone found Chong, he was delirious and dehydrated, 
with respiratory and kidney distress.

A year later, the Department of Justice agreed to pay Chong $4.1 
million to settle a claim of maltreatment. The DEA also promised to 
make changes so no one else would ever suffer similar treatment.

Chong was hospitalized and underwent intensive psychotherapy for 
posttraumatic stress disorder. Slowly, he put his life back together.

He is back in school, has changed his major to economics and is set 
to graduate this year.

Chong said he holds no anger toward the DEA and is convinced it was 
an accident and that the agency has made changes.

"I don't think it's going to happen again, at least not in that 
facility," he said.

Chong appeared at the conference with Iredale; Iredale's partner, 
Julia Yoo, who represented Chong during the claim and investigation; 
and ACLU attorney Margaret Dooley-Sammuli.

In the summary of its investigation, the Department of Justice Office 
of Inspector General concluded that four DEA employees knew Chong was 
in the room but each thought someone else was responsible for him.

Since the incident, the agency has established a protocol for 
assuring that someone is responsible for suspects being held in 
cells. Cameras have been installed so the cells can be monitored and 
an occupancy ledger is now maintained.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom