LOS ANGELES: The troubled life of Britney Spears added a new chapter when the intoxicated pop star was whisked away in an ambulance after police were called to her house to help end a nearly three-hour custody standoff involving her young sons.
The 26-year-old pop star was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Entertainment Tonight reported on its web site on Friday. Cedars spokeswoman Simi Singer said she could neither confirm nor deny the report, citing patient confidentiality laws.
Officer Jason Lee of the Los Angeles Police Department told City News Service that Spears appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance. He declined to elaborate. No injuries were reported.
Spears was conscious late on Thursday when paramedics took her out of her home in a gurney. Several police cars escorted the ambulance out of the neighborhood, followed by dozens of paparazzi.
Officers were called to Spears' house around 8 pm to respond to the custody dispute with ex-husband Kevin Federline over their sons, two-year-old Sean Preston and one-year-old Jayden James, Lee said.
By about 10:30 pm, six police cars, two ambulances and a fire truck had entered the gated-community that includes Spears’ house. Several police cars were seen in the area earlier in the night.
Spears turned over the children around 10:50 pm, Lee said.
Spears and Federline have been involved in a long and very public custody battle. Federline has temporary custody of the children as Spears, who has limited visitation rights, has defied court orders. The two were married in October 2004 and divorced in July.
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