A man and a woman have been arrested in connection with an assault on former New York Governor David Paterson and his stepson, as per police reports. The incident took place on Friday at around 8:30 p.m. while they were walking in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Both Paterson, 70, and his stepson Anthony Sliwa, 20, sustained minor injuries and received treatment for them.
The police confirmed on Monday that a 40-year-old man was charged with gang assault and assault, while a 34-year-old woman was charged with gang assault in relation to the attack. It is unclear if they have legal representation at this time. The arrests followed the apprehension of two boys aged 12 and 13 on Saturday on gang assault charges connected to the same incident.
During a news conference on Saturday afternoon, Paterson described the assault and how he and Sliwa defended themselves against the group of attackers after Sliwa had an altercation with some of them earlier in the evening. Paterson revealed sustaining injuries to his head and shoulder from being punched, while Sliwa had a cut lip that required five stitches.
Paterson, a member of the Democratic Party, served as governor from 2008 to 2010, taking office after Governor Eliot Spitzer resigned amidst a scandal involving sex workers. He was the first and so far only Black governor of New York. Authorities have not disclosed if they are seeking additional suspects related to the incident.