By John Oyewale
Five suspects attacked former New York Governor David Patterson and his stepson while the pair were walking their dog in Manhattan late Friday, according to reports.
The New York City Police Department (NYPD) alerted the public via statements of the gang assault that took place after a verbal altercation at about 8:35 p.m. in front of a commercial building but identified neither the victims nor suspects.
🚨WANTED for GANG ASSAULT: On October 4, 2024, at approximately 8:35 PM, in the vicinity of 1871 2nd Avenue, a group of individuals were involved in a gang assault incident.
If you have any information, please contact CrimeStoppers:
– Visit https://t.co/eTkmlNemAX
– DM @NYPDTips… pic.twitter.com/aRbq30Gm3F— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) October 5, 2024
The New York Post identified the victims as former Governor David Paterson and his stepson, Anthony Sliwa.
Patterson and Sliwa were walking down the street when they met and exchanged words with the teenage suspects who were climbing a fire escape at the Upper East Side location, according to the outlet. The argument then allegedly devolved into an attack on the ex-governor and his stepson. (RELATED: NYC Gang Members Sentenced After Violent Clash With Rivals)
Patterson apparently suffered facial and head injuries while Sliwa suffered facial injuries. Emergency personnel transported both to the Weill Cornell Medical Center in stable condition, according to police.
Anthony Sliwa is the oldest son of Curtis Sliwa and lives with his mother Mary and stepfather Paterson, the elder Sliwa said early Saturday on the New York City-based 77WABC Radio podcast “Another Side of Midnight Curtis Sliwa.”
The two victims were walking their dog as they did each night, Sliwa said. The victims fought off the “gang of thugs,” Sliwa added.
“David Paterson is recovering from his wounds,” Sliwa said. “Anthony’s wounds are a little more serious, but he’s … has a busted lip and is just going through a precautionary series of x-rays.”
The visually impaired Patterson was “battered and bruised but nothing major” but Anthony was checked for a possible concussion, Sliwa told the Post, adding that he was “proud” of his son’s handling of the incident.
“But it just gives you an idea that nobody is safe in New York City any longer — this is the Upper East Side,” Sliwa said on the podcast. “This is the place where these kinds of problems generally did not occur over the years. On occasion, yes, but they’re occurring more and more frequently. There’s a lot of sketchy people walking around in the streets, whether they’re teenage thugs, whether they’re homeless or emotionally disturbed…”
Sliwa is the founder of The Guardian Angels, a volunteer-run crime prevention organization. The younger Sliwa is also a Guardian Angel, the Post reported.
In 2021, Sliwa ran for NYC mayor but lost to the now-embattled Eric Adams.
