A woman called police Thursday at 2:15 a.m. to report that while she was walking near 84 Beacon St., a man approached her from behind, pushed her, grabbed her purse and ran off. 

Police found a man who fit the given description walking on the bridge that passes over Storrow Drive onto the Charles River Esplanade. Officers followed the suspect and when he noticed them, he ran, police reports state. 

Police chased and caught him as he attempted to hide. They later charged the man, William Melton, 34, of Boston, with unarmed robbery and assault and battery.