Not vouching for anyone or anything because I wasn't there, but I have to disagree on it being that easy to just "transport". I'm pretty familiar with the process, I was a security officer with a local large hospital for a few years (go ahead chuckle) and had to deal with mentally unstable people ALOT. In our ER it was a constant occurance. Patient gets sectioned (legal jargon for being forced to get help) they come to hospital. Counselor sees them, they swear they aren't crazy or they even admit to being crazy. Counselor makes some phone calls about a bed, meaning treatment centers. This is based on a few variables to include health insurance (beds aren't free). If there aren't any beds they either let you go home with FAMILY or keep you in hospital. The problem is if a guy says hes stable, the family takes him home, and then he snaps you get this.
I'm familiar with it on this end because now I'm one of the guys who has to go to your house when you (anyone) is freaking out apeshit with the knife. We then grab you and force you in the ambulance so you don't stab anyone else. If there are no beds they can and do release you, sometimes. Flip side.... if the hospital holds you waiting for a bed you are taking up valuable safe for the other sick people and you scream (I would) that they are holding you against your free will.
Moral of the story... mental health is NEVER simple and a convoluted process at best. My heart goes out to the family I wish them the best.
The problem with your above is that Gus was seen on Monday for a pych eval and the recommendation was that he be temporarily detained for a 72-hour observation. Get 2 doctors or a doc & 2 psychologists to sign that part of the Green Warrant in Virginia and it takes a very brave judge or a really fast-talking attorney to not have person held. And in Virginia the judge is going to have to put in writing why, if Gus was certified as needing temporary detention, he did not order it. And the Sheriff is going to need to put in writing on the return of the warrant why Gus was not transported. No available bed locally will not cut it when the law clearly states he could be transported anywhere in the Commonwealth. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+15.2-1724 and http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+16.1-340.1
And if you are the guy stuffing folks into an ambulance it sounds like you are not the on-call certified MH clinician that is usually involved as the first-line decision-maker of dangerousness to self or others. Those folks really hate putting their hands on anybody, but especially potentially crazy people.
stay safe.
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