“There’s nothing you can legally do about someone exhibiting strange behavior until that behavior crosses the line and he actually DOES something dangerous to himself or others.”
I know that in many states - if not most - that’s simply not true. In Washington State, two doctors can swear you’re a present danger to yourself or others and have you put on in-patient watch for 72 hours.
It rarely happens though, because of the potential litigation.
That’s true.
Here in Texas, family can sign a warrant that allows law enforcement to take the individual into custody and before a judge, where his mental status is evaluated and where it is determined whether he is a danger to himself or others.
But it doesn’t work very well.
I’ve seen a looney brother-in-law convince judge that the family was just out to get him, then go get in his pickup, with his rifle, and continue frightening the town, family fearing for their own safety. Fortunately, the cops in a nearby village stopped him on a traffic violation and were able to lock him up and get him committed.
He was out again in a week.
The current system just doesn’t work.