Inquest into the death of Daniel Bolton

AI-generated summary

Daniel Bolton, aged 30, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the neck and head while attempting to avoid arrest by police. He had a history of drug addiction, mental health issues including depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation, and substantial criminal history. During community supervision following release from prison, COVID-19 restrictions severely limited drug testing and face-to-face monitoring. Bolton continued using drugs despite engagement with Community Corrections, mental health services, and treatment programs. His mental health deteriorated significantly in September 2020, with documented suicidal thoughts and self-harm attempts. On 21 October 2020, following a police pursuit, Bolton was involved in a foot pursuit while armed with firearms and making suicidal statements to police. Senior Constable Millhouse's aggressive tactical approach brought the situation to rapid conclusion within 22 seconds; however, Bolton fired the fatal shot himself. Key clinical lessons: mental health deterioration in offenders under community supervision requires proactive assessment; COVID-19 restrictions on drug testing compromised monitoring; the cumulative burden of multiple supervision and treatment conditions may have overwhelmed Bolton.

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