ACTOR TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AFTER ERRATIC BEHAVIOR.

Byline: Mary Schubert Daily News Staff Writer

Actor Martin Lawrence was taken into custody Tuesday after police said he was found running through Ventura Boulevard traffic screaming at passing cars and carrying a concealed handgun.

The 30-year-old star of the Fox-TV sitcom ``Martin'' was taken by ambulance to Sherman Oaks Hospital and Health Center about 12:30 p.m. He was released to his personal physician a few hours later, said Officer Manny Valladares, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesman.

``It was determined that Mr. Lawrence was suffering from a seizure as a result of his failure to take prescribed medication,'' Valladares said.

Valladares said he did not know what medicine Lawrence took or the condition it treated.

Lawrence was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he was treated by his personal physician, Dr. William Young.

``It appears that he's suffering from extreme exhaustion,'' explained hospital spokesman Ron Wise, who said Dr. Young ``didn't mention anything about a seizure.''

The incident occurred near the intersection of Ventura Boulevard and Tyrone Avenue.

``The way he was acting when the officers first approached, they thought he was under the influence of an unknown substance or alcohol,'' said Sgt. Joseph Brazas of the LAPD's Van Nuys station.

``Officers patted him down and found a loaded .38-caliber semiautomatic handgun in his pants pocket,'' Brazas said.

Lawrence was handcuffed and paramedics took him to the hospital. Brazas said carrying a concealed weapon is a misdemeanor and LAPD detectives likely will ask the City Attorney's Office to file charges.

``He never took the gun out,'' Brazas said. ``Otherwise, we probably would have had people diving for cover.''

Police hadn't determined whether the firearm was registered to Lawrence.

Lawrence's films include ``Bad Boys'' opposite Will Smith, ``Boomerang'' with Eddie Murphy and Spike Lee's ``Do The Right Thing.''

His latest film, ``A Thin Line Between Love & Hate,'' has grossed more than $30 million.