Man Indicted In Harlem Subway Cane, Belt Beating Of 60-YO Woman: DA

HARLEM, NY - A Bronx man was indicted Monday for attacking a 60-year-old woman with a wooden cane and belt inside a Harlem subway station last month, officials said.

Blake Norton, 43, was charged with attempted assault and related offenses per a New York State Supreme Court indictment for the attack inside the West 116 Street and Lenox Avenue subway station, officials said.

“Blake Norton needlessly resorted to violence when he allegedly assaulted a subway rider dozens of times,” Manhattan District Attorney Bragg said in a statement. “The alleged acts reflect the serious and excessive nature of the assault, as the victim laid helplessly on the ground. Our prosecutors are working diligently to hold accountable anyone who threatens the safety of subway riders.”

Norton and the victim were walking up the stairs to exit the station on Sept. 1 about 3:19 a.m. when her walker fell, prompting a verbal spat between Norton and the woman, according to the indictment.

As the argument escalated, Norton removed his belt and struck the woman several times; the woman used a wooden cane to strike Norton back, officials said.

Norton grabbed the cane from her hand and struck the woman on her head and body over 50 times for more than two minutes, officials said. The beating caused significant bruising, swelling and pain that culminated in the victim's two week long hospital stay.

Norton was arrested several days later, officials said.