LARGO, Fla. (AP) - A plane ready to take off from the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport had to return to the gate because of a drunk passenger.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office reports that 59-year-old Bradley James Radtke was aboard an Allegiant Air flight to North Carolina Monday evening when he began making profane and inappropriate comments and scaring other passengers. The crew decided to take the plane back to the gate, where a deputy escorted the man off in a wheelchair.

The deputy reported that he had not initially intended to arrest Radtke, but the man continued to be belligerent and began kicking another deputy.

The Iva, S.C., man was arrested and charged with disorderly intoxication and battery on a law enforcement officer. He was being held on $2,600 bail.