Sarah Palin's son charged with assaulting his father

The eldest son of former Republican US vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin has been charged with assault and burglary in a violent confrontation with his father in which the two men struggled over a handgun at his parents' Alaska home.

File photo of Track Palin, son of former Republican vice presidential candidate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin Source: AP

According to the criminal complaint and supporting documents, Track Palin, 28, broke through a window of the house in Wasilla, Alaska, and scuffled with his father, Todd Palin, on Saturday night in a clash that stemmed from a family dispute over a truck.

The altercation left Todd Palin bloodied and former Alaska governor Sarah Palin visibly shaken, police said in an affidavit filed with the charging documents in state court.

The incident marked the latest in a string of run-ins with the law by the politician's elder son, a US Army Reserve veteran who served a 2008 tour of duty in Iraq.

File photo of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (C) L-R back row: son Track and husband Todd, second row: daughter Willow,daughter Bristol, at front daughter Piper. Source: AAP

Track Palin, who is now barred by court order from further contact with his parents and two younger siblings who live with them, remains jailed in lieu of bail.

He was charged with a felony count of burglary with attempted injury and a misdemeanour assault count, according to court records.

It was Sarah Palin who called police to report that her elder son was assaulting his father and "freaking out and was on some type of medication," the police affidavit stated.

Track Palin told police after his arrest, according to the affidavit, that his father had pointed the gun at him, and that the son goaded his father to shoot him. It said he admitted to drinking a few beers earlier that night.