NEWBERG, Ore. - Police are searching for a man on a bike who knocked down and stole the purse from a Newberg woman who is legally blind and suffers from scoliosis.

Jessi Andrews, 29, told police she was walking on a sidewalk along the west side of the Rite-Aid at 1130 N. Springbrook at the Springbrook Plaza in Newberg Friday afternoon when a man on a bike rode past and suddenly grabbed her by the hair and jacket while gripping her small purse, which was strapped over her shoulder, according to Newberg-Dundee police.

As the cyclist continued on with the purse, the "sudden and surprising action" caused the 4 foot 4 inch woman to lose her balance and fall into a flowerbed, police said.

When she fell, the woman lost her glasses and could not find them until she got help after going into the store. Although shaken, she was not injured, police said.

Along with important medication, personal papers and cards, the purse held most of the cash from her monthly disability check, police said. She planned to spend the money on rent and Christmas.

She described the cyclist as white, in his mid-30s with brown hair and a long, scraggly ponytail. She was wearing a dark- or black-colored jacket and was riding a full-size mountain bike or something that looks similar.

Anyone with information on the incident was asked to call Detective Eric Ronning or Officer Ken Howell at (503) 538-8321.