Former Governor David Paterson Attacked While Walking Dogs In Manhattan; 2 Arrested

Surveillance footage has been released showing an attack on former New York Governor David Paterson, who is legally blind, while he was walking his dogs with his stepson last Friday on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

Paterson, the first Black governor of New York and the second blind governor in U.S. history, was assaulted by a group of adults and teenagers. Two individuals, identified as Black youths, have been arrested in connection with the incident.

The Post Millennial reports:

At least five people were involved in the attack, according to the NYPD, which did not release their names due to their status as minors. Police released photos of the assailants, which included a girl wearing purple braids. At least one of those for whom they are searching, police said, is believed to be an adult. Another minor who was wanted in the attack turned himself in but police did not charge him, saying that he was not involved.

The former governor and his stepson were walking the family dog, Paterson said, when they saw a group of people climbing a fire escape on Second Avenue near East 96th Street. Paterson advised the group to get down, stating that he intended to call the police if they did not, per the AP. Paterson said that he and his stepson, who is the son of former mayoral candidate and head of the Guardian Angels Curtis Sliwa, “had no choice but to defend themselves.” Paterson said he was “punched in the face a couple times.” 

Paterson and his stepson, were treated for minor injuries at a local hospital, including injuries to Paterson’s face. Sliwa required five stitches in his lip. The former governor is legally blind. Paterson served as governor of the Empire State after Elliot Spitzer resigned amid a prostitution scandal in 2008 and held the position until 2010.

“Governor Paterson and his family are glad to see the suspects turned themselves in,” Paterson spokesman Sean Darcy said. “We hope that the young people involved learn something from this unfortunate encounter.”

The attack has sparked renewed debate over crime rates in New York City. While Democrats argue that crime is declining, many residents report feeling less safe, with concerns reminiscent of the city’s high-crime era in the early 1990s.

Though New York City saw a significant decrease in violent crime from the 1990s through the early 2000s, recent years have brought an uptick in incidents, particularly homicides and shootings. Experts point to several factors behind the rise, including gang activity, the drug trade, and economic struggles intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the increases, the city remains far safer today than it was in the ’80s and early ’90s.

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