A child may be taken into protective custody by a peace officer, or accepted by an ambulance service, and transported and presented to a treatment facility for emergency evaluation and treatment when a designated examiner certifies in writing that he has examined the child within the last seventy-two (72) hours and that on such basis he has probable cause to believe that such child is suffering from serious emotional disturbance as a result of which he is likely to:

1. (1) Harm himself or others; or
2. (2) Suffer substantial mental or physical deterioration; and
3. (3) Require immediate treatment to prevent such harm; and
4. (4) Less restrictive alternatives have been considered and the detention and treatment proposed is consistent with the least restrictive alternative principle.

[16-2412, added 1997, ch. 404, sec. 1, p. 1288.]