A Hamilton man ended up in a hostage negotiation Tuesday — but the hostage was his cell phone.

Around 12:50 p.m., a man was walking and talking on his cell phone on Dunsmure Avenue in the east end when a man came up from behind him and grabbed his phone. The suspect then ran off, police say.

Two people saw what happened, and ran off after him along with the victim. The suspect ran into an alleyway just east of Spadina Avenue — dropping his own phone in the process.

The victim grabbed it, and then attempted to negotiate with the suspect to get his own phone back. The suspect agreed and made the exchange, but when he did the victim tried to hold the man for police. The suspect, police say, then punched him in the face.

The suspect then ran off. Police are still searching for him.

The victim didn’t end up with any serious injuries because of the incident. He did end up with his phone back in the end.