Woman stabbed in the leg in Ocean Beach by man trying to steal purse

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – A woman asking for directions in Ocean Beach wasstabbed during an attempt to steal her purse Saturday, but she fought back and herassailant fled empty-handed.

The 55-year-old victim asked the suspect for directions while in her carin an alley off Santa Monica Avenue near Santa Barbara Street around 3:15p.m., San Diego police Sgt. Ray Battrick said.

Instead of helping the woman, the man stabbed her in the left thigh witha steak knife and went for her purse, Battrick said. But the woman foughtwith the suspect until he took off.

Battrick said the woman was taken to a hospital to be treated for adeep, but non-life-threatening stab wound.

Police described the suspect as white, around 40, 6-feet tall, 200pounds and possibly homeless.

He had unkempt curly black hair and was wearing a red shirt with acircle design and sleeves past the elbows, dark shorts, black gloves with thefingers cut off and was pushing a stroller or a golf cart bag.