[stlnative]

BINGO

He could take her into protective custody BECAUSE of the denial of food and water by natural means. It would be his duty as the chief executive to prevent a forcible murder in progress.

He could also arrest her, as you say, as a material witness to an investigation.

[xzins]

Yes.

Or, if there is any dispute over whether an order has been given forbidding the natural ingestion of food and water, he could "oversee" remedy without protective custody.