Inquest into the death of ANTHONY ROMANAS CARISTO

54y · Male·Cardiac arrest in a person with cardiac hypertrophy and generalised atherosclerosis whilst exhibiting features of excited delirium syndrome and self-harm who died following being placed under physical restraint by AFP officers and the application of an electrical current from a conducted electrical weapon when under the influence of very high and potentially lethal levels of methamphetamine

Anthony Caristo died from cardiac arrest on 31 October 2017 following police deployment of a taser during a mental health crisis. He had consumed a lethal dose of methamphetamine, was actively self-harming with knives, and exhibited psychotic behaviour. Police reasonably believed immediate action was required to prevent further self-harm and enable medical treatment. The taser was justified and deployed appropriately. Cardiac arrest resulted from multiple combined factors: methamphetamine toxicity, excited delirium syndrome, underlying cardiac disease, physical restraint, and taser use—no single cause identified. The coroner found no negligence by attending officers. Key clinical lesson: enhanced training on excited delirium syndrome risks, post-taser medical observation protocols, and taser restrictions for vulnerable populations (psychotic, intoxicated, mentally unwell) should be implemented to guide future police responses.