Can a person be arrested for having a panic attack? (see details)?

Question

I was driving the other day and thought I saw the man that attacked me standing on the corner. I kept going, and within a block or so had a major panic attack ... the whole bit, sweating, chest pain, the feeling I needed to run and hide somewhere. I was positive I was dying right then, and of course pulled over right away; I knew there was no way I could drive and my kids were with me too.

The thing is, I thought I'd pulled into the Kroger parking lot, but stupid me was two driveways off and instead I pulled into the parking lot for the fire department. I was sitting there just gripping the wheel and waiting for it to pass when one of them noticed me. A county LEO was there and he wanted me to go to the hospital, but I refused, knowing it would pass, and he was going to arrest me!

The EMT's there convinced him I'd be okay in awhile, and sure enough I was. So my question is, can I be arrested for a mere panic attack? I was no danger to anyone, just needed to stop for a few.

I mean, under what charge would he have arrested me? I was not endangering my kids, I pulled over!

No David, I was not blocking the driveway where the firetrucks come out, I was in the parking lot with their cars lol. The actual engines come out on another street, I was in the back

Answer 1

If I had to guess, I'd say she has borderline personality disorder. Other guesses include bipolar, substance abuse (e.g., alcohol), and one of the other personality disorders (e.g., paranoid, schizotypal, antisocial). She may also have some codependency-like issues. If you want to educate yourself, start by looking up borderline PD. But I'm not sure exactly what you're looking for here. Your mom's behavior is abusive. When an abuser won't take the steps into therapy, there's not much you can do except cut off contact. Borderline PD doesn't have a great prognosis even if you see a good therapist and work a good program. If you're too defensive to even get help, it's unlikely your behavior will ever change. PS: Don't be fooled by the benign-sounding name "borderline." It's one of the most serious and difficult mental health conditions. PPS: matisgroupie's suggestion of a book is a very good one. This is a way to get help for yourself, which might help the situation.

Answer 2

I think you misunderstood what he was doing.He was going to place you under a "watch" to make sure you were not a danger to yourself or others around you.There are more than you and your kids involved here.there are other people on the road that you could have hurt had you decided to leave before you were ready to.

Whether we like it or not,Any public official has a responsibility to protect the citizens.Even a trash man was probably educated on the job on how to keep an eye out for things that do not make sense.Examples are,Reporting all suspicious activity such as maybe an oil tank truck that might be parked in a mall parking lot because of the possibility that it is a potential attack on a large amount of people,Maybe your recycle crew would report excessive household chemical containers in a recycle can they pick up.An example of this would be 10+ bleach containers per week.Very common household chemicals when combined could be a bomb in the making,Another example that would likely fall into your group would be people possibly sitting in and near buildings that are township owned such as the court house,fire station,police station etc.... taking notes f when it is best to attack or plant something in and not be detected.
You can thank 9/11 for this attitude but it is a reallity and I am sure you do not look like a terrorist but if anyone can explain to me what one looks like exactly,I am open to listening.

Answer 3

Not so much an arrest as a protective custody. Most people are familiar with the '5150" tag for suicidal subjects. But most states have a similar statute for people deemed "gravely disabled" or in a state where they are unable to care for their own safety. This usually pops up when someone gets injured and is kind of out of their mind to the point they don't know they should get help. (Frequent with head injuries). Panic attacks can look (and as you know, feel) much worse than they ultimately are.

Bottom line: the officer was concerned about you. He showed care and was wise enough to listen to the EMT's when they clarified what it was.

Answer 4

Having a panic attack is not against the law.

Could be you were parked illegally, or blocking the fire trucks.

Or, he may have been just trying to lean on you to get you to go to the hospital because he truly thought you were having a medical emergency. I would think this is the case since he did not, in fact, arrest you.

Answer 5

I don't believe you were doing anything illegal that would have required you to be arrested.
Some cops are impatient when it comes to "panic attacks". They don't have extensive medical training, and think it's something you can just "snap out of". Maybe, he was trying to get you to snap out of it, by threatening you with arrest. That doesn't make it OK, though. I bet it made your panic attack even worse.
If you were confused and unable to answer simple questions, or he felt you were a danger to yourself or others, then he could place you into protective custody and take you to the hospital.
Otherwise, he can't arrest you.
Hope this helps.

Answer 6

Blocking the driveway of a fire station. Resisting arrest with out violence.

Answer 7

An officer cannot hold court on the side of the road. You are charged but not necessarily convicted. Go to court and see if the judge will be more reasonable.

Answer 8

W&I 5150

Answer 9

More than likely he would have placed you in protective Custody if he thought you were endangering you're self