Coroner’s inquest underway in death of London, Ont. woman in police custody

CTV London’s Nick Paparella with the beginning of a provincial inquest into the 2019 police custody death of Amanda Bolt.

A coroner’s inquest looking into the death of Amanda Bolt of London got underway on Thursday.

Jurors heard that the 28-year-old woman was arrested by London police officers on property damage charges and taken into cells at headquarters on Dundas Street on Nov. 2, 2019.

Through video exhibits shown during the proceedings, Bolt is seen telling officers in the cell area that she has a medical condition.

“I need medication, so I don’t have a heart attack,” she said.

Bolt is then released to be allowed to pick up her medication from the pharmacy.

She is let go with other conditions but after breaching them hours later, she is re-arrested and taken into cells again.

During the night she spends in cells, officers notice she is in medical distress. She is administered CPR, given four doses of naloxone for drug use and is rushed to Victoria Hospital by paramedics.

Bolt died in hospital 10 days later with the cause of death being a cardiac arrest.

The inquest heard Bolt had a difficult upbringing spending 10 years in foster care homes.

Over time she hung out with people who used drugs and alcohol and developed her own history of addiction and mental health challenges.

In a submission from her family, the inquest heard, “She had a life filled with potential doomed by circumstances.”

The inquest, which is being live streamed, is expected to hear from a total of nine witnesses and is slated to last seven days.