ST. LOUIS • Police released surveillance photos Friday of a man who knocked a woman down in a purse-snatching last month.

The attack happened at 7:20 a.m. Aug. 17, in the first block of Maryland Place.

St. Louis police say the woman, 69, was walking west on Maryland Place when the man asked her for money. She said she had no money and kept walking.

When she reached York, the man jumped her from behind. He began wrestling with her over her purse, police say.

The purse's strap broke during the struggle, and the man ran off with the purse. A witness chased the man and retrieved the purse.

The attacker wanted for second-degree robbery is described as a black man, 45 to 50 years old, 5-foot-7 to 5-foot-9 and about 180 pounds. He was wearing a white T-shirt, blue jeans and red-and-gray shoes.

Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477.

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