By Kameel Stanley, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, December 11, 2010
LARGO — Chaos erupted in a Pinellas County courtroom Saturday morning as a rowdy Palm Harbor couple were taken down by sheriff's deputies after a judge ordered them held in contempt of court.
Matthew Ross, 37 and his 33-year-old wife, Lisa, had been attending a 9 a.m. child dependency hearing at the Pinellas County Criminal Justice Center on 49th Street when they became upset with a judge's decision.
Authorities said Ross was so angry that he stepped out of the main hearing area, slinging a swing gate back with such force that it slammed and ricocheted on the divider.
Judge Patrick K. Caddell then ordered Ross held, but he continued to charge through the courtroom's gallery and into the vestibule, authorities said.
Sheriff's deputies in the courtroom then took Ross to the ground, leaving a gash ...