Two boys, just 12 and 13 years old, have been charged with gang assault for the attack on former Gov. David Paterson and his stepson on the Upper East Side.
The boys and their parents surrendered to police on Saturday evening, a day after the clash near the former governor’s apartment. A third teen also surrendered but has not been charged.
The teens’ names have not been released by police because they are minors.
Paterson said the attack at a news conference Saturday afternoon, describing how he and his stepson fought off a group of about nine people after his stepson had argued with some of the attackers earlier in the evening.
Paterson, 70, who is legally blind, and his 20-year-old stepson Anthony Sliwa — the son of Guardian Angels founder and former mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa — were walking on Second Ave. Friday around 8:30 p.m. when the group confronted them near E. 97th St., police said.
About 45 minutes earlier, Sliwa was out alone with his dog, Bella, and argued with three members of the group after seeing them climb a fire escape on the side of a building, Paterson said.
Paterson and Sliwa were on their way to the McDonald’s when the same three confronted them, flanked by about six others, Paterson said.
They argued, and a woman, who Paterson said was at least in her 30s, confronted his stepson and then threw the first punch, the former governor said.
“This was simply not an incident involving young people spiraling out of control,” he said.
Young Sliwa, who was scheduled to take his purple belt test this week at the Guardian Angels’ martial arts dojo, held his ground but was quickly overwhelmed by the number of attackers.
“I got hit in the face a few times and hit in the shoulder,” Paterson said. “But I threw the person who hit me on the shoulder against the window of McDonalds.”
Paterson suffered bruises and some pain in his head. Sliwa, also battered and bruised, suffered a cut lip that required five stitches, Paterson said.
The NYPD released surveillance images of five suspects Saturday morning, hoping someone would recognize them.
It was not immediately clear whether the two arrested teens were in those photos.
Police are asking anyone with additional information to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All tips are treated confidentially.
Paterson served as lieutenant governor under Governor Eliot Spitzer and took over as governor in March 2008 after Spitzer resigned midway through his term following a prostitution scandal. Paterson was the first black governor of New York state. He served the remainder of the term, until the end of 2010, but did not seek re-election.
