In 2012, a US student was forgotten in a DEA cell for five days without food or water; he drank his own urine to survive, and the government later paid him $4.1 million in a settlement | World News

A 23-year-old university student in the US was left inside a windowless Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) holding cell for nearly five days after agents decided he would not be charged in a drug investigation. With no food, drinking water or access to a toilet, he was forced to drink his own urine in a desperate attempt to stay alive. As his condition deteriorated, he screamed for help, tried to attract attention and eventually carved the words “Sorry Mom” into his arm. When agents finally discovered him, he was severely dehydrated and required hospital treatment. The incident, which took place in San Diego in April 2012, later led to a $4.1 million settlement with the US government and an investigation that exposed serious failures within the DEA’s detention procedures.

How Daniel Chong ended up in DEA custody

Daniel Chong, an engineering student at the University of California, San Diego, was at a friend’s house in San Diego on April 21, 2012, when DEA agents carried out a drug raid. Investigators discovered approximately 18,000 ecstasy pills, along with other drugs and weapons, at the property.Chong was among nine people detained during the operation. He was questioned by agents and, according to his account, was told that he would not be charged and could go home. However, instead of being released, he was taken back to a small holding cell measuring approximately five feet by 10 feet.The cell had no windows, and Chong was left handcuffed with his hands behind his back. He was not provided with food or drinking water, and there were no toilet facilities. What was supposed to be a temporary detention turned into an ordeal lasting almost five days.

He drank his own urine and carved ‘Sorry Mom’ into his arm

As the hours passed, Chong became increasingly desperate. With no access to water, he resorted to drinking his own urine to prevent himself from dying of thirst. He also ingested methamphetamine that he found inside the cell, according to reports about the incident.He repeatedly screamed and tried to make noise to alert people outside. At one point, he attempted to reach a sprinkler system in the hope of getting water. He also broke his glasses and used a piece of them to carve the words “Sorry Mom” into his arm.His physical and psychological condition continued to deteriorate. Reports following the incident described severe dehydration, kidney damage, muscle degeneration, hallucinations and post-traumatic stress disorder. He was eventually discovered on April 25, 2012, in serious medical distress and taken to hospital, where he remained until April 29.

Four DEA employees encountered him but failed to secure his release

An investigation by the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General examined how Chong could have remained inside the facility for so long without anyone ensuring his release.The investigation found that four DEA employees, including three case agents and a supervisor, had seen or heard Chong during the period of his detention. However, they assumed that someone else would return to process him. No one took responsibility for confirming that he had been released.The inspector general’s findings also highlighted serious weaknesses in the facility’s procedures. These included inadequate systems for tracking detainees, a lack of cameras inside individual holding cells, unreliable entry records and failures to conduct required daily checks.The report concluded that the detention resulted from a combination of employee misconduct and institutional failures. The agents had decided that Chong would not be charged, yet the procedures in place failed to ensure that he was actually released.

Why the US government paid him $4.1 million

Following the incident, Chong’s attorney, Eugene Iredale, filed a $20 million administrative claim against the federal government in May 2012. The claim sought compensation for the physical injuries and psychological trauma caused by the detention.In July 2013, the US government agreed to pay Chong $4.1 million to settle the claim. The payment was negotiated before a trial and was not a court-ordered award. The settlement brought the legal claim to an end without a court determining the government’s liability through a verdict.The exact calculation behind the $4.1 million figure was not publicly itemised. However, the claim was based on the severity of Chong’s ordeal, the medical consequences and the psychological harm he suffered. His attorney also said at the time that legal fees were capped at 20 per cent and estimated that Chong would receive at least $3.2 million after those fees.

DEA apologised and changed its detention procedures

The incident prompted the DEA to review its procedures for handling people held at its facilities. The agency apologised to Chong and introduced changes that included installing cameras in holding cells and requiring daily inspections of detainees.The case also led to disciplinary action against employees involved in the incident. In 2015, the DEA’s Board of Professional Conduct issued reprimands and short suspensions to some of the personnel. The penalties included a seven-day suspension for the supervisor.The disciplinary measures drew criticism from officials and lawmakers who considered them too lenient given the seriousness of what had happened.