Yes, this happened right here in the town in which I work, and, yes, the sausage-tossing alleged perpetrator and I share the same surname, but, no, we are not related, at least to the best of my knowledge.

Lindsay McNamara, 24, of nearby Ashland, Mass., was charged with disorderly conduct and malicious destruction of property the day after Christmas when it is alleged she tossed sausages – and bacon – at a police officer working behind a glass window at the police station in Framingham, the town in which Network World is headquartered. It made headlines nationwide. Today the local newspaper, the MetroWest Daily News, published video surveillance footage of the incident.

So who is the bearded fellow watching the drama unfold? That would be Norman Miller, police reporter for the MetroWest Daily News (and a darn good one, I might add). Miller was there checking the police log, a job I did many a time myself when I worked for that newspaper years ago.

Two things Miller did impressed me: He kept his cool, and, eventually, started taking pictures with his cell phone. Under the bizarre circumstances, I can’t say for certain that I would have done either.

As for Lindsay McNamara, who reportedly told the police officer “I’m here to feed the pigs,” she will next be in court on Feb. 9, according to this story.