DEA apologizes to student who says he drank his urine to survive

Source: Los Angeles Times

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 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.

Read more: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/05/dea-apologizes-to-student-who-drank-his-urine-to-survive.html

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30 replies	Author	Time	Post
DEA apologizes to student who says he drank his urine to survive (Original post)	shawn703	May 2012	OP
no, but it's clearly indicative of the LOW standards DEA cops are held to....	mike_c	May 2012	#1
Hmm... Sherman holds his employees to "high" standards, does he?	Blue Owl	May 2012	#2
I hope he gets a big enough settlement from those motherfuckers...	Systematic Chaos	May 2012	#3
unfortunately, that settlement is paid for by US taxpayers	wordpix	May 2012	#23
Probably but not necessarily	Jim Lane	May 2012	#28
And for your troubles	usrname	May 2012	#4
He was a few hours from death when found. If he had died, they would have hushed it up.	Liberal_in_LA	May 2012	#5
It would have been a suicide.	marble falls	May 2012	#12
yep. Nevermind that he was malnourished and dehydrated.	Liberal_in_LA	May 2012	#13
New slogan: "The drugs probably won't kill ya, but the DEA will." n/t	Tsiyu	May 2012	#19
DEA public affairs officer George Tirebinder replies,"yeah he was malnourished and....	marble falls	May 2012	#21
I was called to evaluate a man in a local small town jail here	dixiegrrrrl	May 2012	#25
scary stuff.	marble falls	May 2012	#26
"this event is not indicative of the high standards that I hold my employees to"... riiiiiight	NoMoreWarNow	May 2012	#6
"Acting Special Agent In Charge?" Well, THERE'S the problem -- no one IS in charge!	rocktivity	May 2012	#7
Oh dear, they forgot to consult their attorneys before ADMITTING GUILT.	kestrel91316	May 2012	#8
The DEA has 10,000 employees in 60 countries around the globe...	lib2DaBone	May 2012	#9
I have to disagree....	AnneD	May 2012	#29
They like to call it the "war on drugs" but's it's really a war on human rights.	NC_Nurse	May 2012	#10
Eliminating the DEA (and their parasites...agents) is one way to cut the deficit.	Dawson Leery	May 2012	#11
It would be the BEST way to cut the deficit	Tsiyu	May 2012	#15
+1	iscooterliberally	May 2012	#17
more: He said when employees discovered him in the cell that they looked confused and nervous	Liberal_in_LA	May 2012	#14
The controlled substances act needs to be repealed.	iscooterliberally	May 2012	#16
+1 and it's not like the policies are working, either	wordpix	May 2012	#24
A while back, a lawyer friend of mine successfully freed a guy	struggle4progress	May 2012	#18
So they admit fault...	longship	May 2012	#20
Mr. Sherman should be jailed for a year with only enough bread and water...	47of74	May 2012	#22
Sure: "we are sorry you drank your own urine."	ChairmanAgnostic	May 2012	#27
There should be some kind of standard-time-interval check....	PavePusher	May 2012	#30

Response to shawn703 (Original post)

Wed May 2, 2012, 04:34 PM

mike_c (31,588 posts)

1. no, but it's clearly indicative of the LOW standards DEA cops are held to....

Sheesh. Keep digging.

DEA apologizes to student who says he drank his urine to survive

1. no, but it's clearly indicative of the LOW standards DEA cops are held to....

2. Hmm... Sherman holds his employees to "high" standards, does he?

3. I hope he gets a big enough settlement from those motherfuckers...

23. unfortunately, that settlement is paid for by US taxpayers

28. Probably but not necessarily

4. And for your troubles

5. He was a few hours from death when found. If he had died, they would have hushed it up.

12. It would have been a suicide.

13. yep. Nevermind that he was malnourished and dehydrated.

19. New slogan: "The drugs probably won't kill ya, but the DEA will." n/t

21. DEA public affairs officer George Tirebinder replies,"yeah he was malnourished and....

25. I was called to evaluate a man in a local small town jail here

26. scary stuff.

6. "this event is not indicative of the high standards that I hold my employees to"... riiiiiight

7. "Acting Special Agent In Charge?" Well, THERE'S the problem -- no one IS in charge!

8. Oh dear, they forgot to consult their attorneys before ADMITTING GUILT.

9. The DEA has 10,000 employees in 60 countries around the globe...

29. I have to disagree....

10. They like to call it the "war on drugs" but's it's really a war on human rights.

11. Eliminating the DEA (and their parasites...agents) is one way to cut the deficit.

15. It would be the BEST way to cut the deficit

17. +1

14. more: He said when employees discovered him in the cell that they looked confused and nervous

16. The controlled substances act needs to be repealed.

24. +1 and it's not like the policies are working, either

18. A while back, a lawyer friend of mine successfully freed a guy

20. So they admit fault...

22. Mr. Sherman should be jailed for a year with only enough bread and water...

27. Sure: "we are sorry you drank your own urine."

30. There should be some kind of standard-time-interval check....