Tomato-tosser missed Palin

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, presumably accustomed to criticism being lobbed at her, found herself under a different kind of assault yesterday at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn.

Palin was at a book-signing in the mall's East Rotunda about 2 p.m. when a "a local man with no permanent address threw a tomato at Palin from the second level across the rotunda," according to a statement provided by Bloomington police.

"The tomato missed Palin by approximately ten feet, but hit two Bloomington Police officers after hitting the stage," according to the statement.

Bystanders pointed out the alleged tomato-tosser, identified by police as Jeremy Paul Olson, to nearby officers, who arrested him at the scene.

Police said they expected to charge him with disorderly conduct and fourth-degree assault on a police officer, both of which are misdemeanors.