CLEARWATER -- Gregory S. Pound, a write-in candidate for Pinellas County sheriff, was ejected from the Sarah Palin rally Monday morning.

Pound says he arrived at 5:45 a.m. and waited in line. He had two tickets with him and entered without a problem.

About 8 a.m., inside Coachman Park, he said two large men came over to him and said they needed to talk with him. The men escorted him out of the park and told him not to return.

Police Lt. James Steffens said two people were ejected, but he would not give the identity of either one. He said it was up to the Republican Party to decide who stayed and who left the rally.

Last month, Pound was thrown out of a convention-watching party hosted by U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young. That time, Pound was arrested on a charge of trespassing and taken to jail. Once in jail, he refused to go to his first appearance.

That led a judge to order him detained for psychiatric evaluation under the Baker Act.

Pound was not charged with a crime Monday. He said his ejection was particularly disappointing, because
"I'm a supporter of McCain and Palin. I make phone calls for them."

--Jonathan Abel, Times staff writer

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