Police say Britney Spears released from LA hospital

By Raquel Maria Dillon

LOS ANGELES – Britney Spears was quietly released from a hospital Wednesday, a stark contrast to the way she came in – with an extensive escort of more than a dozen police officers in cars, on motorcycles and in helicopters, paparazzi in tow.

Her incognito getaway from UCLA Medical Center required no police, said Capt. Sharyn Buck, commander of the North Hollywood police station, which covers the area where Spears’ home is located.

“There was no media, no paparazzi, and no need for public safety protection,” Buck said.

The troubled singer was hospitalized Jan. 31 and held for a 72-hour evaluation that was originally set to expire Sunday. Her stay was then extended for two weeks, a person close to the pop star told The Associated Press, which may explain why she was able to avoid attention on her way out.

Spears remains under the temporary conservatorship of her father, an arrangement created after a judge determines a person can no longer care for themselves or their personal affairs. Her father, James, was named conservator of Spears, and he and attorney Andrew Wallet were made co-conservators of the estate.

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As her conservator, Spears’ father has been granted access to all of her 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.