If, during the period of involuntary hospitalization pursuant to any valid physician's certificate, court order, or order by the hearing examiner authorized by this chapter, a patient escapes or otherwise leaves a facility without permission, the facility may advise any peace officer that the patient has escaped or otherwise left the facility without permission; and the peace officer shall be authorized to take such patient into custody and return him to such facility.
(Code 1933, § 88-407.9, enacted by Ga. L. 1979, p. 744, § 11.)