Student Left in Cell 5 Days W/O Food or Water by DEA

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the case of a student, Daniel Chong, who was allegedly left in a DEA cell for five days without food or water, leading to severe physical and psychological distress. Participants explore the implications of this incident, including potential legal actions, accountability of the DEA, and the treatment of individuals in custody.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express outrage over the treatment of Chong, suggesting that the DEA agents involved should face criminal charges for negligence and dereliction of duty.
  • Others argue that Chong's lawsuit against the DEA is justified and hope for a substantial financial settlement.
  • There are claims that the negligence displayed by the DEA is unacceptable, especially given laws that protect humane treatment for individuals in custody.
  • Some participants speculate that the situation may have been a mistake rather than a deliberate act of cruelty, questioning how such oversight could occur.
  • Concerns are raised about the accountability of individual agents versus the government as a whole, with some suggesting that taxpayers will ultimately bear the financial burden of any settlements.
  • There are mixed feelings about the implications of Chong's experience on his future, with some suggesting it may deter him from engaging with drugs, while others express concern for his mental health and educational prospects.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the severity of the situation and the need for accountability, but there is disagreement regarding the nature of the negligence (whether it was a mistake or deliberate) and the appropriate consequences for those involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the lack of clarity regarding the specific circumstances that led to Chong being left without basic necessities, as well as the potential limitations of suing individual employees versus the government.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those concerned with legal accountability in law enforcement, human rights issues, and the treatment of individuals in custody.

zoobyshoe
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Horrendous:

He said agents questioned him, and then told him he could go home. One agent even offered him a ride, Chong said. No criminal charges were filed against him.

But Chong did not go home that night. Instead, he was placed in a cell for five days without any human contact and was not given food or drink. In his desperation, he said he was forced to drink his own urine.

“I had to do what I had to do to survive….I hallucinated by the third day,” Chong said. “I was completely insane.”


Source: DEA Ignored All My Cries: Student | NBC San Diego

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/daniel-chong-ucsd-san-diego-dea-149758275.html
 
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He is suing and will likely win. Hopefully a huge sum too. Good.
 
gravenewworld said:
He is suing and will likely win. Hopefully a huge sum too. Good.

Yes, and the taxpayer will pay. In any remotely fair system, the individuals directly responsible for this atrocity would be sued directly in addition to the government. Moreover, they should be criminally prosecuted for gross dereliction of duty.
 
SW VandeCarr said:
Yes, and the taxpayer will pay. In any remotely fair system, the individuals directly responsible for this atrocity would be sued directly in addition to the government. Moreover, they should be criminally prosecuted for gross dereliction of duty.
Totally agree. The government should pay some because they are ultimately responsible, the individuals involved should pay some because they are immediately responsible and said individuals should face criminal charges for grevious bodily harm, kidnapping etc.
 
How is that even possible? When they're bringing around food and drinks, like three times a day, it's not out of the ordinary to deny a prisoner of this basic need? Or to take the prisoner out to the recreation area once a day? And, was there no toilet in the cell? Unbelievable..
 
gravenewworld said:
He is suing and will likely win. Hopefully a huge sum too. Good.
Maybe they should give him free drugs for life. :devil:
 
It sounds like it may have been a mistake. Like whoever knew he was there, thought he was going to be taken care of by someone else, or something like that. I don't know why anyone would purposely do that.
 
leroyjenkens said:
It sounds like it may have been a mistake. Like whoever knew he was there, thought he was going to be taken care of by someone else, or something like that. I don't know why anyone would purposely do that.

I don't think anyone believes it was deliberate. But such negligence is beyond the pale. Nothing can excuse it. We have laws that guarantee humane treatment to convicted criminals of the worst kind. We have laws about the treatment of animals. This young man wasn't even charged with a crime and yet suffered excruciating agony over four days and nearly died at the hands of the these monumentally incompetent and derelict government employees.
 
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SW VandeCarr said:
In any remotely fair system, the individuals directly responsible for this atrocity would be sued directly in addition to the government.

That is usually pointless if you are looking for a large payout. People can only pay what they have, and presumably the individuals directly involved were fairly low-grade employees so they are unlikely to have much.

Moreover, they should be criminally prosecuted for gross dereliction of duty.
Agreed. Unlike a civil case (i.e. suing them personally for damages), criminal courts are not limited to financial punishments.
 
  • #10
SW VandeCarr said:
I don't think anyone believes it was deliberate. But such negligence is beyond the Pale. Nothing can excuse it. We have laws that guarantee humane treatment to convicted criminals of the worst kind. We have laws about the treatment of animals. Yet this young man wasn't even charged with a crime and yet suffered excruciating agony over four days and nearly died at the hands of the these monumentally incompetent and derelict government employees.

Oh, I thought some people thought it was deliberate. Well, in that case, yes, I completely agree with what you said. There's no excuse for it, and he deserves to be compensated with at least a large sum of money. There also needs to be quite a few people losing their jobs and serving some jail time, along with having to pay money to this guy.
 
  • #11
AlephZero said:
That is usually pointless if you are looking for a large payout. People can only pay what they have, and presumably the individuals directly involved were fairly low-grade employees so they are unlikely to have much.

That's why I said "..in addition to the government." The taxpayers are going to pay as usual. Nevertheless, those involved should pay what they can. Federal employees are well paid for what they do.
 
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  • #12
Hopefully he wins millions. That must have been scary..
 
  • #13
If his allegations are correct, in addition to the lawsuit the officials involved should be incarcerated for life. If I were not so adamantly opposed to the death penalty, I would say that they should be fried in their own fat.
 
  • #14
Wow, talk about being careless. The guy's life is scarred because those guys just forgot about him. Most likely they will be fired if anything, but not suprisingly I imagine that it will be a lot worse.
 
  • #15
Hopefully, the young man will never go near drug dealers and try to get high. Might as well, all other young people who read this story.
 
  • #16
rootX said:
Hopefully, the young man will never go near drug dealers and try to get high.

I'd be more worried about going near the DEA! :biggrin:

He said he is going to quit school due to his new perspective on life. My guess is that he won't be needing an education now.
 
  • #17
dlgoff said:
Maybe they should give him free drugs for life. :devil:

?Even if he was doing lines of coke he still didn't deserve to be dehydrated to death. Not even murders are sentenced to death in many cases.
 
  • #18
Ivan Seeking said:
I'd be more worried about going near the DEA! :biggrin:

He said he is going to quit school due to his new perspective on life. My guess is that he won't be needing an education now.

:smile:
 
  • #19
Ivan Seeking said:
I'd be more worried about going near the DEA! :biggrin:

He said he is going to quit school due to his new perspective on life. My guess is that he won't be needing an education now.

His past is being unveiled. :biggrin: He is not smart, if he was, he wouldn't have been imprisoned for 5 days without such life necessities.
 
  • #20
phylotree said:
His past is being unveiled. :biggrin: He is not smart, if he was, he wouldn't have been imprisoned for 5 days without such life necessities.

I don't understand your logic >.>
 
  • #21
phylotree said:
His past is being unveiled. :biggrin: He is not smart, if he was, he wouldn't have been imprisoned for 5 days without such life necessities.
'No, no!' said the Queen. Punishment first - trial afterwards.'
 
  • #22
gravenewworld said:
?


Even if he was doing lines of coke he still didn't deserve to be dehydrated to death. Not even murders are sentenced to death in many cases.

Maybe I shouldn't have used the :devil:. I totally agree with you. Give him anything he wants.
 

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