Air delays at LaGuardia were made worse by the on set of one man's fear of flight and fear of family. Colin Ferm, President & CEO of the New York start up spudWorks, was detained yesterday by Port Authority Police after refusing to get on a United direct flight to California.

"The guy was sitting in one of those chairs they got in the lounge," said a fellow passenger, a Dean Parisot, already delayed, but delayed further by Ferm's antics. "He was weeping, and I was just praying that he wasn't on my flight."

"He was," Parisot added.

LaGurdia, one of the busiest airports in the nation and frequently plagued by air delays, was experiencing a particularly bad day on Friday. United flight 202 had already been pushed back two hours and passengers were stalled an addition forty minutes because of Ferm.

"He was saying something about not wanting to have to face is family," commented Mike Lehman, another passenger on the flight. "I don't know how a guy like this can run a company."

The trouble, according to passengers, began when the plane actually began to board. When Ferm's row number was called he let loose a loud wail that silenced most of the packed airport. The cry immediately alerted security that something was amiss.

"When there's so much backed up air traffic like today, the passengers can get a little rowdy," said Commander Proyas of the Port Authority Police. "We've had fights break out. We didn't want that."

Instead what they got was a man who didn't want to leave. Ferm fell to his knees before the check in counter and started to beg the flight attendant at the counter to delay the flight a little longer. A week, witnesses say, is what he was asking for.

"Though it could have been the alcohol by the smell of him," said Parisot.

As soon as the PA Police arrived Ferm suddenly sobered up. He picked up his luggage, which included a bike messenger bag and a guitar, and started to run. The police, worried because of holiday bomb threats, gave chase eventually tackling him at the bar which was his presumed destination.

"He's a small guy, but he could sure swing that guitar," said Proyas. One officer was injured before another was able to leap on Ferm and beat him into submission.

P.T. Anderson, Ferm's lawyer had no comment but to say that what was demonstrated was a clear case of overreaction and police brutality and that charges would be pressed.

"The last thing he said before we went out," said Proyas. "Was 'thank you.' 'Thank you for saving me from my family.' What I'd give to go to California for the holidays."

The weather in San Francisco today was in the 70's and clear.