US: Sarah Palin's oldest son Track charged over domestic violence case

While Sarah Palin was voicing her support for presidential candidate Donald Trump on 19 January, Track Palin, her oldest son, was arraigned in a domestic violence case in Wasilla, Alaska. The former Alaska governor's son has been charged with assault, interfering with the report of a domestic violence crime and possessing a weapon while intoxicated.

Track's girlfriend told the police that he had punched her in the face and she was afraid he would shoot himself with an AR-15 assault rifle during an altercation.

Court documents stated that Track's girlfriend of one year had bruising and swelling around her left eye, and she said her right knee hurt after he kicked her there.

According to the records, both Track and his girlfriend called 911. Police Officer Andrew Kappler, who responded to the call, said that the man had sustained an injury to his right eye and surrounding area and smelled of alcohol. Kappler was forced to handcuff him after he started becoming hostile. On entering the house, the officers found the girlfriend hiding under a bed, crying.

After striking his girlfriend, Track held the rifle close to his face, yelling: "Do you think I won't do it?" The girlfriend "was concerned that he would shoot himself and ran outside and around the house", the affidavit said. "She didn't see where Palin went, so she went inside and up the stairs, where she hid under a bed."

Track's breathalyser test showed a reading of 0.189. He was arraigned in the Palmer District Court and released after posting a $1,500 (£1,059) bail. The court did not immediately have a lawyer on record for him.

The Palin family lawyer, John Tiemessen, said in an email that respect for the family's privacy is appreciated "as Track receives the help that he and many of our returning veterans need".

In 2014, Track was involved in a 20-person alcohol induced fight at a friend's house party after he confronted his sister Willow's former boyfriend. The fight left him with broken ribs and his father Todd had a bloodied nose.