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HE CAME CLOSE TO DEATH HIS
LAWYERS SAY.
HE WAS LEFT FOR FOUR AND A HALF
DAYS IN A WINDOWLESS CELL.
NO ONE CHECKED ON HIM.
HE WAS NEVER FORMALLY ARRESTED
OR CHARGED.
THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN IN A LAWLESS
DEVELOPING COUNTRY.
IT HAPPENED IN SAN DIEGO TO AN
AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENT, DANIEL
CHAUNG.
>> I DID GO CRAZY.
>> Reporter: HE JUST REACHED A
SETTLEMENT WITH THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT.
HIS NIGHTMARE BEGAN ON APRIL 21
LAST YEAR.
HE WAS VISITING A FRIEND WHEN
AGENTS FROM THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT
ADMINISTRATION BURST IN.
THEY SEIZED THOUSANDS OF ECSTASY
PILLS AND OTHER DRUGS AND GUNS.
CHONG ADMITTED HE SMOKED POT
THERE.
>> THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T
CHARGE YOU.
>> THEY SAID THEY WOULD COME GET
ME IN A MINUTE.
MINUTES, HOURS, DAYS PAST.
NO FOOD, WATER OR TOILET
FACILITIES.
HE WAS IN TOTAL DARKNESS THE
LAST TWO DAYS.
>> WHAT DID YOU DO TO SURVIVE?
>> EVENTUALLY YOUR SURVIVAL
INSTINCTS DO KICK IN.
YOU START TO REALIZE WHAT YOU
HAVE TO DO WHICH IS DRINK ANY
FLUID THAT IS AROUND WHICH IS MY
URINE AT THE TIME.
I WENT AHEAD AND DID THAT.
>> HE HALLUCINATED HE SAYS SO
DESPERATE AT ONE POINT HE BIT
INTO HIS GLASSES AND BROKE THEM.
>> I TRIED TO CARVE SORRY MOM
INTO MY ARM.
I DIDN'T FINISH THAT.
>> DID YOU CALL OUT?
>> OF COURSE, I DID.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WOULD SIT
THERE AND MEDITATE.
>> FINALLY SOMEONE OPENED THE
CELL.
HIS LAWYER SAYS HE SPENT THREE
DAYS IN ICU, HAD KIDNEY FAILURE.
THE DEA APOLOGIZED.
A JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
INVESTIGATION ENSUED.
NEITHER THE DEA NOR JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT WILL COMMENT BEYOND
THAT.
HIS LAWYERS SAY BECAUSE NO
CRIMINAL INTENT WAS FOUND NO ONE
WILL BE PROSECUTED.
MARTIN HORN SAYS A KEY QUESTION
IS WHETHER DEA HAD RULES IN
PLACE FOR INCARCERATION.
>> THEY ARE AN INVESTIGATIONS
AGENCY.
THEY ARE NOT A CORRECTIONS
AGENCY.
THEY ARE NEITHER EQUIPPED NOR
TRAINED NOR ORGANIZED TO
SUPERVISE PEOPLE HELD IN
CONFINEMENT.
>> ONE OF THE LAWYERS SAY THERE