David Paterson’s neighbor remembers related assault in NYC neighborhood

An Higher East Aspect dad was attacked by a bunch of thugs practically a month in the past — close to the identical spot the place former Gov. David Paterson and his stepson had been accosted Friday evening.

The household, who’re Paterson’s neighbors, spoke out Saturday concerning the terrifying ordeal after phrase of the assault on Paterson and Anthony Sliwa unfold.

The Sept. 5 incident was sparked after a weird confrontation between the household’s 17-year-old daughter, her guardian and the attackers on the Q practice.

“’What are you taking a look at along with your ugly enamel?’” the teenagers requested the woman, who has a genetic dysfunction referred to as Williams Syndrome.

“’You’re retarded.’”

When her babysitter, who accompanies her on the subway, stood as much as defend her, the teenagers requested if the lady needed to struggle, recalled Melissa Felsher, the woman’s mother, who requested the teen stay nameless out of worry for her security.

“They stated ‘Slavery was abolished years in the past. Why are you defending her?’” Felsher stated.

The babysitter is black. 

Everybody received off the practice at 96th Road, however the teenagers then stole the babysitter’s telephone and began circling her and her cost. 

That’s when the teenager referred to as her mother.

“Mommy, mommy, assist! They’re surrounding us!” Felsher, 57, remembered, breaking down in tears, “I began working towards the practice cease. I referred to as the police.”

She additionally referred to as the woman’s father, Gary Portnoy, who ran to the station solely to have the youngsters soar him. 

“One child swung a cane at me, and subsequent factor you realize they’re all piling on. I received entangled with the one child, and subsequent factor you realize, they jumped on me and began pounding on me whereas I used to be attempting to struggle again,” Portnoy, 55, stated. 

“I had a bloody nostril, my head was all bruised, I used to be getting kicked and punched.”

The dad was left with a golf ball sized bump on his head and wanted to get checked for a concussion and damaged bones.

“It took like 20 minutes for police to return,” he stated.

The attackers fled on a downtown sure bus.

The traumatized teen stated she will be able to’t get the episode out of her thoughts. 

It “performs in my head again and again, so it’s like watching it once more,” stated {the teenager}.

“I used to be simply feeling very horrified and pondering that this was going to be the top of it, and by no means seeing my dad once more, and my buddies,” she stated.

The beatdown of Paterson and his stepson introduced their horror speeding again, she and her dad and mom stated.

Cops have arrested three of the suspects, however the household stated there are three extra.

It’s not clear if any of the attackers had been the identical ones who struck Paterson.

There must be extra of a police presence within the space.

“It’s the catch and launch factor on this metropolis…they’ll’t simply preserve letting these youngsters get away with this,” Portnoy stated.

“That’s why they’re working wild and doing what they do – as a result of they know there’s no penalties to what they do, and it’s scary.” 

A 16-year-old woman and a boy, 15, had been every charged with third diploma assault; whereas an 18-year-old was arrested however particulars of his prices are sealed, police sources stated.

The mom was devastated to listen to of Paterson’s expertise.   

“To listen to that our buddies and neighbors, the previous governor and his son, it’s devastating for us, as a result of we had been so traumatized and so scared and replayed it for weeks, and it took so lengthy to step away from it,” Felsher stated.

“We will solely have critical understanding and compassion for what they’re going by as a household.”