The crowded sidewalks of Hell's Kitchen, once filled with local residents enjoying the 80-degree summer heat, quickly became deserted after a daytime robbery led to police pursuit. Officers pinned down two suspects on Ninth Avenue.
On Wednesday night, the New York City Police Department responded to reports of a robbery in the area of W. 55th Street and Eighth Avenue, and sent officers and patrol cars to the area.
Authorities responded after a 911 caller reported a wallet and headphones stolen around 5:40 p.m. The complainant provided a description of the suspects and noted that they fled on a motorcycle. Officers immediately asked for help tracing the man's foot.
During the pursuit, police worked with the complainant and used digital trackers to track the stolen electronic devices. At one point, a signal from the device was detected at 728 9th Avenue, between W49th Streets and W50th Streets.
The Citizen's initial report mentioned a firearm, but police did not confirm the presence of a weapon in the report.
At the scene of the arrest, it was apparent that the suspects had abandoned their bicycles and continued west along W. 51st Street toward Ninth Avenue. Police arrested one suspect outside Arriva Arriva, and the other was detained by officers outside McCoy's, a few doors down from Ninth Avenue to W 52nd Street.
More than 20 police officers were involved in the pursuit, and multiple police cars were dispatched to the scene from all directions, with some police cars even driving the wrong way on the sidewalk.
A police spokesperson announced this evening that two persons of interest had been arrested in connection with the robbery.
We will update this story as more information becomes available.
