Spears Briefly Hospitalized After Custody Dispute

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UPDATE: Spears left Cedars-Sinai hospital on Saturday, accompanied by TV therapist Dr. Phil.

(FROM REUTERS) – Britney Spears was taken to a Los Angeles hospital early Friday (Jan. 4) following a four-hour altercation with police, who came to her home Thursday night to help settle a dispute in her custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline. TMZ reports that Spears was taken out of her home on a gurney and checked into Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for an evaluation. A spokeswoman for the hospital declined to comment, and an officer at the Los Angeles Police Department had no information. Spears was ordered to hand her two sons over to Federline at 7 p.m. on Thursday night, but refused, and the AP reports that police officers were called to her home at around 8 p.m. to resolve the dispute. Spears reportedly turned over the children at around 10:50 p.m., according to Officer Jason Lee, a police spokesman. Lee told the AP that Spears was under the influence of an unknown substance when the police arrived at the home. An ambulance and fleet of police cars escorted her to the hospital a few hours later. Federline has temporary custody of their children because Spears, who has limited visitation rights, has defied court orders. Earlier on Thursday, the singer showed up late to a deposition and was deposed for just 14 minutes before leaving. After she completely missed a scheduled hearing on Wednesday (Jan. 2), Spears' custody lawyers asked to be removed from her case citing a ''breakdown'' in communication with their client. (Reuters)