Whenever a resident in any county home leaves such home without the acknowledgement of the superintendent or administrator thereof, such superintendent or administrator, if he believes it is for the public welfare that such resident should be returned to the home, may pursue and retake such resident. However, if the resident contends that the public welfare will not be furthered by his return, the superintendent or administrator shall file an affidavit, in the court of common pleas of the county in which such home is located in which he shall set forth the name and residence of such resident, the date on which such resident was received in the home, and the date on which the resident left such home without acknowledgement. Such affidavit shall state the reasons that it is for the public welfare that such resident should be returned to the home.
R.C. §5155.08