Former Gov. David Paterson and his 20-year-old stepson were assaulted on Manhattan’s Upper East Side Friday evening, according to the governor’s spokesperson and police.
New York’s first legally blind governor was taking a walk around the block near Second Avenue and 96th street just after 8:30 p.m. with his 20-year-old stepson when they were “attacked” by a group of people who “had a previous interaction with his stepson,” Paterson spokesperson Sean Darcy said.
“They both suffered some injuries but were able to fight off their attackers,” Darcy said in a statement. “They are currently at Cornell Hospital as a precaution. They have already filed a police report and no further information is available at this time.”
According to police, Paterson, 70, and his stepson Anthony Chester Sliwa were in an argument with five unidentified people, four of whom were described by officials as male and one of whom was female. Members of the group then struck the pair in the face and “about the body,” officials said.
Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, Anthony’s biological father, could not immediately be reached Saturday morning.
Police said Paterson was injured in the face and head. His stepson was also injured in the face, according to the police description. Police said that there have been no arrests as of early Saturday morning.
Paterson, a Democrat, has been vocal on crime in recent years, as Republicans have sought to cast blame on members of his party for unease around public safety.
This is a developing story and may be updated.