Former New York Gov. David Paterson on Saturday described the Upper East Side attack in which punches were thrown at him and his stepson.

Paterson, 70, said at a news conference Saturday at the scene that the incident Friday night started when his stepson, Anthony Sliwa, 20, was walking their dog near Second Avenue and 97th Street. Sliwa noticed three young people climbing the side of the building and told them to get down or he was calling the police. The three came down and had a brief argument with Sliwa.

Later, just before 9 p.m., Paterson says he and Sliwa went for a walk around the block and encountered the same three people among a group of around nine. An argument ensued and a woman, in her 30s according to Paterson, threw the first punch. Another adult threw the second punches.

"The kids didn't start the fight, they were arguing. Then, when the fight started, everybody got into the fight. It lasted for a while. At one point, when I had finally thrown this kid down, I turned around and saw that Anthony was on his knee, bent over and clearly severely hurt," Paterson said.

Paterson said a neighbor was coming down the street at the same time and they helped Sliwa home, then called 911 to get him to the hospital. Paterson said he believes his stepson is going to be fine.

No arrests have been made as police say they continue their search for the people wanted in connection with the attack.

Paterson served as New York governor from March 2008 to December 2010, taking over following former Gov. Eliot Spitzer's resignation.