A crime is a crime, but we're all people too. Sometimes doing everything precisely by the book isn't what's appropriate, and a little common sense and understanding is called for instead.
I hate the criminalization of everything in America almost as much as I hate our backwards healthcare system.
Edit: unless even the police thought they were doing the humane and common-sense thing by putting him in jail to get health care--in which case I don't know what to do but hang my head.