A London police officer testified in court on Friday regarding the events leading to the death of a woman in police custody. The ongoing six-day public inquiry aims to uncover the circumstances surrounding Amanda Bolt’s death and explore ways to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Bolt, 28, was arrested twice on November 2, 2019, and subsequently experienced a medical emergency while in custody at London Police Headquarters. She was later transferred to Victoria Hospital, where she remained on life support until passing away 10 days later.
Testimony revealed that it took approximately 15 minutes for officers to locate Bolt and provide initial medical assistance. Detention Unit Sgt. Luanne Devine, who was on duty during Bolt’s arrests, recounted the events leading up to the medical emergency. Devine highlighted the importance of addressing inmates’ health issues and detailed the training and documentation procedures within the detention unit.
Inquest counsel Indira Stewart emphasized the significance of medical issues in the inquiry and questioned Devine about the interactions with Bolt during her time in custody. Video footage shown to the jury depicted Bolt’s requests for medication and medical attention while in custody.
Devine also shared details of her interactions with Bolt and the decision-making process leading up to her second arrest on the same day. She expressed regret over the handling of the situation and acknowledged the challenges faced by personnel in the detention unit.
Sgt. Anthea Fordyce provided an overview of the unit’s operations, while the inquest will continue with testimony from other officers involved in the case. The inquiry seeks to shed light on the circumstances surrounding Bolt’s death and identify areas for improvement in police custody procedures.