A man is in critical condition after falling 21 floors down a garbage chute in an attempt to escape from police. The man had allegedly robbed a Chase bank in the city of Syracuse, NY., and was attempting to hide in the building where the chute is located.

Robin Gutheridge, 26, of Syracuse, was arrested in connection with a bank robbery at the Chase Bank at 110 W. Fayette St.

Police tell Syracuse.com that Gutheridge walked into the bank and passed a threatening note to a teller demanding money. He then fled the bank on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash.

A short time later detectives received information that Gutheridge had walked into the Clinton Plaza Apartments at 550 S. Clinton St., police said. Officers and detectives began searching the building around 12:30 p.m.

While officers were searching the building a maintenance worker told them he could hear someone calling for help from a garbage chute in the basement.

Officers found Gutheridge trapped in the garbage chute near a compactor. Police said they believe Gutheridge climbed into the garbage chute on the 21st floor and fell all 21 floors to the basement.

Syracuse firefighters responded and freed Gutheridge from the garbage chute. He was found with some of the money from the bank robbery when he was removed from the garbage chute, police said.

Gutheridge will be charged with third-degree robbery when he is released from the hospital.