Flatiron Burglary Suspect In Custody After Search Prompts Lockdown

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Part of the Flatiron District was locked down Thursday afternoon, as police searched for a burglary suspect who has since been apprehended.

As CBS2's Valerie Castro reported, police apprehended the suspect shortly before 5 p.m. after a two-hour search inside the building at 261 Fifth Ave., at 28th Street. He was found inside the building and brought out in handcuffs.

It was not clear whether the man was armed when he was taken into custody.

The events started at 2:45 p.m. Thursday, after police got word that someone had broken into a building in the area. A woman had returned home to find the suspect inside her apartment, and the suspect had fled, police said.

An ongoing and exhaustive manhunt ensued, before police got word that the man might be barricaded specifically in the 261 Fifth Ave. building.

Officers in SWAT gear were seen going inside the building, while other officers stood out front. The building houses several businesses.

Some people told CBS2 they left early for lunch Thursday, only to return to find a large police presence and their building blocked off.

"Apparently, there's some individual inside who may be armed. I was out to lunch, and when I came back, we weren't allowed to go back inside. (Those already inside are) staying put; they're being told not to leave," one man said. "Hopefully, it's nothing too serious, and hopefully, they'll resolve it quickly and everybody's safe."

There was no word on where exactly the suspect was found inside the building.