Penbrook Police Contact Regarding Cody Balmer

On April 10 Balmer’s mother, Christie, called the Penbrook Police concerned for her son’s well-being after he left the house for whereabouts unknow.  Christie Balmer told police that she believed her son stopped taking his medications a year ago and described his behavior as “irritable and agitated”.  On April 6, Christie Balmer told officers that she had called Crisis Intervention but because Balmer hadn’t made threats to himself or others it did not meet the threshold for an involuntary mental health evaluation.  Christie Balmer also told officers that her son was upset that she called Crisis.

Further investigation lead officers to a hotel in Shippensburg where Balmer had been staying.  The front desk clerk at that hotel and told officers that Balmer had checked out earlier in the day and “appeared fine”.

Additional comments by Christie Balmer to police were that Cody had “run off” in the past to various states.  She also told police that Cody’s brother Daniel was not concerned about his well-being.

Individuals may only be involuntarily committed when they are:

 • Presenting a clear and present danger to others

 • Unable to self-care

• Attempting suicide or expressing suicidal or homicidal ideations

• Self-mutilating

A 302 can occur without a warrant in a situation where a person’s observed behavior requires an emergency involuntary commitment. For this to happen, a physician or peace officer must personally observe an individual behaving in a way that constitutes belief that they are mentally disabled and need immediate treatment.  The police cannot petition a 302 based upon hearsay.  The conduct must be personally observed.