NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Officials indicted a 43-year-old man for repeatedly attacking a 60-year-old woman with a wooden cane and belt inside a subway station in Harlem last month, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced Tuesday.
On Monday, Norton Blake was charged with one count each of attempted assault in the first degree, assault in the second degree and assault in the third degree.
According to court documents, the attack happened at approximately 3:19 a.m. on Sept. 1, as Norton and the woman were making their way up the stairs to exit the West 116th Street 2/3 station station.
As the woman was going up the stairs with her walker and personal belongings, the walker fell down the stairs. Norton and the woman then got into a verbal dispute over the walker.
As the argument escalated, police said Norton took off his belt, which had a metal buckle, and used it to strike the woman repeatedly.
The woman used a cane to strike Norton back. He then yanked the cane out of her hand, causing her to fall to the ground and began striking her with it over her head and body more than 50 times, authorities said.
When the cane eventually broke, Norton returned to using the belt to strike the woman. He also punched and kicked the woman multiple times.
The attack on the woman lasted for over two minutes, while she laid on the ground, officials said.
The woman suffered significant bruising, swelling and pain, resulting in a two weeklong hospital stay, according to prosecutors.
Officials arrested Norton on Sept. 6.
"Blake Norton needlessly resorted to violence when he allegedly assaulted a subway rider dozens of times,” DA Bragg said. "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."