Individual charged with assault for purportedly using belt and cane to beat disabled woman in subway station in NYC

According to court documents, Norton Blake, a 43-year-old resident of the Bronx, stated that he assisted 60-year-old Laurell Reynolds in climbing the stairs at the West 116 Street and Lenox Avenue station in Harlem at around 3:20 a.m. on September 1. However, Reynolds allegedly “fell down the stairs” during this process.

According to the officers, Blake reportedly stated that he had broken the cane while hitting the turnstiles. He admitted that he had hit someone but claimed that he didn’t realize it was a woman. Blake confessed that he had hit the individual multiple times on their thighs and legs.

According to the filing, the individual asserted that he had to resort to using his belt to self-defence against Reynolds. He stated, “I took off my belt to defend myself.”

A grand jury has indicted Blake on two counts of assault and one count of attempted assault for the brutal beating that resulted in Reynolds being hospitalized at Harlem Hospital for a fortnight. As reported earlier, Blake viciously beat Reynolds, and the incident was captured on video. The indictment is a significant development in the case, indicating that Blake will be held accountable for his actions. Reynolds’ recovery is ongoing, and she receives support from the community and law enforcement agencies.

According to prosecutors, the victim is recovering at a nursing facility while Blake, visibly in pain and relying on a cane, was arraigned on the indictment in Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday.

According to a statement from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Blake Norton was accused of repeatedly assaulting a subway passenger, using unnecessary force.

“The reported actions demonstrate the severity and brutality of the attack, as the victim was left defenceless on the ground.”

According to prosecutors, Norton Blake could face imprisonment of at least three years or even up to 15 years if found guilty of the charges. Blake, who pleaded not guilty to the authorities, is facing a serious legal battle. The stakes are high, and the trial’s outcome will determine his fate. In a recent perp walk, Blake went on an apocalyptic rant, caught on video and went viral. The case has garnered a lot of attention, and many are eagerly waiting for its resolution.

According to jail records, he is currently detained at the Vernon C. Bain Correctional Center, a detention facility on a barge in the Bronx’s southern shore, opposite Rikers Island. He is being held on a bail amount of $75,000 or a bond of $100,000.

During the court proceedings, Paul D’Emilia, representing Blake, contended that his client was trying to assist Reynolds, who he believed may be grappling with drug or mental health problems.

During the court hearing, D’Emilia informed the judge that certain factsh do not align with what we perceive to have occurred.

“He went on to explain that his client is disabled and that Reynolds had taken the cane from him and began hitting him with it. It’s important to consider both sides of the story, but for now, we can focus on the facts presented.”

In his plea to the court, he requested that Blake be released before his trial due to his struggles with anxiety and depression, which he believes are not adequately addressed while in custody.

After reviewing the grand jury’s notes, Justice Laura Ward expressed her willingness to explore placing Blake under electronically monitored home arrest. However, she refrained from making immediate decisions until she thoroughly examined the facts.

The violent incident where Blake was caught on camera attacking Reynolds was captured by an MTA worker. The footage showed Reynolds being beaten while Blake yelled at her. It was a disturbing sight to watch.

According to a video obtained by The Post, he yelled at Reynolds as she cowered beneath him, saying that he was only helping her with her walker on the stairs,, which accidentally fell.

After all was said and done, he landed numerous blows on Reynolds.

According to Richard Davey, president of the New York City Transit Authority, the MTA worker documented the ordeal and contacted the city’s Rail Control Center, which then got 911.

According to sources, Blake was initially released by the responding officers following an interview with him and Reynolds. This was due to the conflicting stories provided by the two individuals.

It remains uncertain whether the police viewed the video footage before or after releasing Blake into the streets of Manhattan. Nonetheless, authorities eventually had access to the recording.

According to police sources, their response is currently being investigated internally.

Several days later, Blake was apprehended by the warrant squad of the NYPD.

According to the prosecutors, he has been convicted of eight misdemeanours and failed to appear in court once.

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