By Jennifer Glickel
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MIDTOWN EAST — A man was robbed by two thugs at gunpoint as he entered his apartment building Wednesday afternoon, prompting a dramatic police chase through the neighborhood's streets.
Police eventually caught one of the muggers, who was armed, after a stand-off at a nearby garage on E. 51st Street, witnesses said.
"Put the gun down or I'll shoot!" a witness said the police yelled at the robber, who was still holding his gun, minutes before he was apprehended.
The drama unfolded about 12:45 p.m. when the muggers accosted the victim as he entered the foyer of his walk-up apartment building at 342 E. 51st Street. The muggers beat the victim, leaving him with cuts to his face.
"He fought back as strongly as he could," said a witness who asked to be identified by his first name Noel. "I saw arms flying from across the street."
The muggers fled when they saw a NYPD three-wheeled scooter parked down the block.
The unarmed robber ran up First Avenue before police could catch him.
But the armed robber ran eastward on 51st Street and was cornered parking garage at 420 East 51st Street, witnesses said. Rolando Peña, a doorman at a neighboring building said the officer stood outside holding his gun.
"The gentleman then came out of 420 from the basement with a gun in his hand and the cop yelled, 'Put the gun down or I'll shoot!,'" Pena said.
The robber tried to escape down First Avenue, but was chased by police and caught on 49th Street and First Avenue.
Police officials did not answer inquiries about the crime.
