Two Teen Boys Arrested for Assault on Former New York Governor David Paterson and His Stepson

Two boys, ages 12 and 13, were arrested on Saturday following an assault on former New York Governor David Paterson and his stepson on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The teenagers were charged with gang assault, just one day after the violent incident, which left Paterson and his 20-year-old stepson, Anthony Chester Sliwa, bruised and injured during a sidewalk brawl.

Authorities were initially searching for five individuals in connection with the attack. In a statement released Sunday, Paterson’s spokesperson said, “Governor Paterson and his family are glad to see the suspects turned themselves in. We hope the young people involved learn something from this unfortunate encounter. The Governor is grateful to see the kids’ parents hold them to account and thanks the NYPD for their strong work.”

Paterson, who is legally blind, detailed the incident, explaining that he was “punched in the face a couple of times” and that Sliwa required five stitches for a lip injury. The assault occurred around 8:30 p.m. as Paterson and Sliwa were walking their family dog on Second Avenue near East 96th Street.

The attack followed an earlier altercation about 45 minutes prior when Sliwa noticed a group of teens climbing a fire escape to a nearby building.