Posted on 02/06/2008 8:26:15 PM PST by NormsRevenge
Britney Spears dodged the spotlight when she was released Wednesday after spending a week in a hospital psychiatric ward, but she was pursued hours later by a swarm of paparazzi as she drove around the city.
Spears left home later in the day driving a black Mercedes-Benz and then exchanged seats with an unidentified man, according to footage from a KTTV Fox 11 news helicopter.
Paparazzi vehicles zoomed around the Mercedes and photographers surrounded the vehicle at each stop. More than 15 people circled the car at one point, shooting still photos and video. Spears' vehicle, however, was observing traffic laws, the helicopter pilot reported.
Spears' public re-emergence came after a hiatus in which her father fought for control of the pop star and her estate, her frequent companion was ordered to stay away from her, and her mother vividly described her daughter's fragile state, drug use and the strange behavior that led to her hospitalization.
It was not immediately clear if her father - who was appointed by the court to look out for her welfare - played any role in her release from the hospital.
Unlike the night she was escorted to the hospital in a caravan of police motorcycles, cars and a helicopter, Spears slipped out of the hospital without notice.
"It occurred without any law enforcement intervention, and for the public that's a good thing," said Capt. Sharyn Buck. "There was no media, no paparazzi, and no need for public safety protection."
But the frenzied crowd of photographers caught up with her later when Spears took to the streets, eventually arriving at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Beverly Hills police Sgt. Mark Miner said a detail of officers was sent to the hotel to "keep the peace." He said it's common for such details to respond to reports of paparazzi causing a nuisance.
A woman at the hotel who identified herself as the assistant manager declined to say whether Spears had gone there.
The troubled singer was hospitalized on Jan. 31 after being taken to UCLA Medical Center in an ambulance that was provided an extensive police escort.
A Superior Court commissioner subsequently placed Spears and her estate under conservatorship. Her father, James, was named conservator of Spears, and he and attorney Andrew Wallet were made co-conservators of the estate.
A conservatorship is created after a court determines a person can no longer care for themselves or their personal affairs.
On Monday, Commissioner Reva Goetz ruled that Spears must remain in the conservatorship until at least Feb. 14. Goetz also appointed a physician to evaluate the 26-year-old pop star's condition.
On Friday, a court issued a restraining order against the man who's been at Spears' side in recent months after the singer's mother portrayed him as a Svengali-like figure who held her daughter hostage in her own home, drugged her, took over her finances and controlled the paparazzi who constantly surround her.
Sam Lutfi was ordered to stay away from Spears, her homes and her parents' and siblings' homes.
As her conservator, Spears' father was granted access to all of his daughter's medical records and authority to determine where Spears lives and who she sees.
Spears, who is in a child custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline, was also briefly hospitalized earlier in January after police were called to her home when she refused to return her sons to a Federline bodyguard after a visit. That trip to the hospital occurred amid a swarm of paparazzi.
Spears has since lost all visitation rights to her sons, 1-year-old Jayden James and 2-year-old Sean Preston.
The singer has been in a spiral of increasingly bizarre behavior since November 2006, when she filed for divorce from Federline.
Since then, Spears has been seen at public events in short skirts and without underwear, has shaved her head bald, run over a photographer's foot with her car, left the scene of a fender bender, flogged another car with an umbrella and abandoned a car in traffic when it had a flat tire. Recently, she was seen sitting on a sidewalk, holding her pet dog and crying.
On Wednesday, Buck said a grand theft report was filed with the Los Angeles Police Department, alleging that someone took "miscellaneous items," including a painting and jewelry, from Spears home. Buck didn't say who filed the report or when.
we can only hope.
Apparently these Hollyweird joints have revolving doors.
Britney needs a CCW.
Hard to believe she hasn’t hit bottom, but other bipolars are clear about getting treatment—as one said, “It’s not easy deciding to come down from going 150 miles an hour.” Brit’s story will have a tragic ending.
Brittany’s back on the road? thanx fer the warning!
I wonder if she’d pay me a cool million to find a few friends to circle around a papparazzi’s car for a couple of days impeding their own travel on their “private” time.
Yup. It's too bad, but I'll be surprised if she survives through summer. This will not end well. Hopefully she won't take anyone else with her.
Britney is this year’s Anna Nicole story and this decade’’s Princess Di. I don’t think anyone will be surprised when we see the headlines...she is running out of treatment time. She should still be in the hospital. Sad.
I am horrified to learn that the docs wanted to keep her but the legal eagles decided (through their infitinte wisdom) that she could leave. I think they might just live to regret that.
I can’t help but wonder if there will someday be ‘Britney ‘ statutes written. One set pertaining to the paparazzi; the other to mental health issues and how family members can intervene. I hope that KFed’s ‘’people’ are taking notes for any possible malpractice wrongful death suits that could be filed on the Federline boys behalf on the loss of their mother.
I’m afraid these lawyers will only regret losing the “billable hours” should this poor crazy young lady die.
poor britney. I really was relived when she was in treatment and was upset they let her out so soon. anyone can see she is not in her right mind and needs the help of non-sleaze buckets.
I hope she gets better
poor britney. I really was relived when she was in treatment and was upset they let her out so soon. anyone can see she is not in her right mind and needs the help of non-sleaze buckets.
I hope she gets better
poor britney. I really was relived when she was in treatment and was upset they let her out so soon. anyone can see she is not in her right mind and needs the help of non-sleaze buckets.
I hope she gets better
My odds are that she’ll kick the bucket before May 1st.
Dr. Phil is watching his hairy back.
latest is that the court has decided that her father can fire her manager who rumor has it has been controlling her, drugging her, etc..
she needs help and protection as do the citizens from her as she keeps driving way too much for someone in her condition..
Britney Spears’ father given power to fire her manager
By RAQUEL MARIA DILLON | Friday, Feb 8 2008
http://www.bakersfield.com/119/story/358464.html
A Superior Court commissioner gave Britney Spears’ father the power to fire the singer’s business manager, according to documents released Friday.
Commissioner Reva Goetz also ordered Howard Grossman to turn over “all documents, records and assets relating to Britney Spears” to James Spears, who is the court-appointed conservator of his daughter and her estate.
The order was released the same day attorneys who have represented Spears in her child custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline filed papers to withdraw from that case.
Goetz issued her decision after an emergency closed-door hearing requested Thursday by James Spears. Grossman showed up at the hearing, but he and others were ordered to leave the courtroom.
Grossman would not say if had been fired or how long he had worked for Spears.
—snip—
You’ll have to drive recklessly to stay out of her way.
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