A 48-year-old man who allegedly attacked a 61-year-old woman last night in downtown Boston, stole her purse and attempted to steal her car at knifepoint, was arraigned in Boston Municipal Court today and held on high bail, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley announced.

RICHARD E. MORSE (D.O.B. 12/23/60) of Boston was held on $150,000 cash bail at his arraignment on charges of kidnapping, carjacking, armed robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, attempt to commit a crime, and carrying a dangerous weapon.

“The victim in this case was simply getting into her car after a visit with a family member when she was violently attacked and robbed,” Conley said. “Were it not for the brave response of two civilians who came to the woman’s aid, and the rapid response of police officers, this attack could have been much, much worse. I commend their combined efforts to identify and apprehend the perpetrator of these alleged crimes.”

Assistant District Attorney Gregory Henning told the court that the victim, who lives in Auburn, was in town to visit a relative. At about 7:30 p.m., the victim was waiting for a valet at 45 Province St. to bring her Nissan sedan to the street. He dropped off the car and the victim got in. As she was about to close the diver’s side door, Henning said, “the defendant entered the motor vehicle by force, and pushed [the victim] into the passenger’s seat.” Alarmed, the victim began screaming. The victim told police that the defendant punched her in the face before pulling out a knife, later identified as an M-Tech with a four-inch black blade and no handle.

“The defendant pulled the knife, threatened her, swung it in her direction and cut her hand,” Henning said. Morse then “ordered the victim out of the car and attempted to drive away,” he said, but the defendant was unable to start the car.

Hearing the victim’s screams, a valet at the 45 Province St. location ran over to help the victim and attempted to remove the defendant from the vehicle. In response, the defendant “took the knife and threatened the valet,” Henning said. Morse then allegedly grabbed the female victim’s purse and fled towards Washington Street. As he ran past the valet parking area at 1 Devonshire Towers and down Quaker Lane, he allegedly entered an unoccupied red Volkswagen Jetta, but exited when the first valet, who had given chase, approached the vehicle.

A second valet, stationed near Devonshire Street, observed the defendant running with what looked like a woman’s purse and flagged down a Boston Police officer to alert him to the defendant’s location and provide him with a physical description. Together, the second valet and the police officer chased Morse onto Congress Street, where the officer was able to see what appeared to be the strap of a purse hanging down from Morse’s sweatshirt.

Observing a knife in the defendant’s hand, the police officer ordered Morse to drop the weapon; Morse was subsequently taken into custody and identified by the victim as her attacker.

The female victim was treated for her injuries on the scene and released.

Morse was represented by attorney Edward Principe, and is expected to return to court on December 21.