Sarah Palin's son charged with assault

Track Palin, the son of former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, has been charged with assault in a family dispute that left his father bloodied.

An affidavit filed by police in Wasilla, Alaska said Sarah Palin — the former governor of Alaska and the 2008 Republican running mate for presidential candidate John McCain — had told them her oldest son, Track, was "freaking out" and on some kind of medication.

The report said her husband, Todd Palin, was bleeding from cuts to his head during a family dispute over a truck.

Todd said he told Track not to come, but that his son said he would come anyway to beat him up. Todd told police he got his pistol "to protect his family." Track then broke a window, disarmed his father and put him on the ground.

Read more: From America's heartland, Sarah Palin is here to stay

Domestic abuse

Track has been arraigned on three counts of felony burglary, misdemeanor reckless assault and misdemeanor criminal mischief.

He is due back in court this week for a preliminary hearing.

This is the second time in as many years that Track has been charged with domestic violence.

Last year, he was accused of punching his then-girlfriend, who feared he would shoot himself with a rifle.

He faced several charges but pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm while intoxicated. Other charges were dropped, and his girlfriend later filed for custody of their child. In January, she requested a protective order against him.

When Track was first accused of domestic violence in 2016, Sarah Palin said post-traumatic stress disorder may have played a role in his aggressive behavior. Track is a military veteran, having served in Iraq for one year in 2008.

bik/cmk (AP, Reuters)