Denver police are looking for a man who tried to snatch a purse this week from a woman in lower downtown then beat her and dragged her down a sidewalk during the attack.

The victim, in her early 50s, told police that just before 10 p.m. Tuesday, she was walking on 15th Street near Curtis when the attacker grabbed her purse. He then hit her when she refused to let go, causing her to fall, police said.

As the man pulled on the purse with the victim hanging on, he dragged the woman on the sidewalk for several seconds. He then used a knife to try to cut the purse straps before he ran away, police said.

"Police are concerned about the aggressive manner in which the suspect attempted to rob the woman," said Denver Police Detective John White.

The attacker appeared to be white or Hispanic, about 30 years old, with closely cropped hair, police reported. He is about 5 feet, 10 inches tall, with a medium build. He was wearing a white shirt with a black jacket.

Anyone with information about the assault should call Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.