A Harvard junior was mugged early Sunday morning on the corner of DeWolfe and Cowperthwaite Sts., the student said.

Returning from Mather House at 1:30 a.m., the Kirkland House resident said he was first accosted by a young man of about 20, who grabbed him by the neck and demanded his wallet.

"I was too stunned to react at first, and then another guy came up and started hitting me in the head and kicking me," said the student, who requested anonymity.

He said he relinquished his wallet, which contained "about $50 or $60". Two other youths, apparently working with the original attackers, arrived and warned of the approach of a police officer, the student said.

As the four men walked off, the student said, he turned the corner and found a Metropolitan Police patrol car on DeWolfe Street.

According to the student, he and the officer gave chase and "within two or three minutes one suspect had been positively identified and the other three detained."

"I was really impressed by the Metropolitan Police. Half a dozen squad cars arrived almost immediately, and the officers handled the whole situation excellently," he said.

Metropolitan Police confirmed that they were investigating the incident, but said they could not release details about the case.