[orthodoc]

Sexobon is correct. There is a mechanism for police to take into protective custody any person who is reasonably deemed to be at imminent risk of harm to self or others, or who appears at risk of imminent serious physical impairment due to a mental health condition. The police must transport such person directly to a hospital for prompt evaluation. This process is not voluntary so cuffs are used.

The point of the provision for this sort of detention is to ensure the satefy and prompt evaluation of someone who meets one or more of the above three criteria, through words or actions and sometimes general appearance (eg an emaciated, obviously physically ill psychotic person found wandering in the passing lane on the interstate). Whatever happened at the pharmacy prompted the pharmacist to call, and either the strength of the concerns communicated prompted dispatch to send three cruisers, or the first officers on scene asked for backup. We don't know the details.But the point of it all was safety.