A serious sex offender living in Minneapolis is a wanted man after shedding his electronic monitoring device, authorities said Thursday.

Gregory L. Smith, 59, is a Level 3 predatory offender, a classification that puts him among the most likely to reoffend.

Smith was released from the state prison in Moose Lake on April 18 and was living in Minneapolis under intensive supervised release. He cut off his GPS ankle bracelet Tuesday and was last seen at the Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis, the state Department of Corrections said.

In 2003, Smith was convicted in Minneapolis of first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a 15-year-old girl. He forced his way into the girl's home when she answered the door, put a knife to her throat and asked her for money before tying her up with wire from a pair of headphones and putting a towel over her head.

His criminal history also includes two sexual assault convictions in Illinois, as well as burglary and assault.

Smith is described as black, 5 feet 10 inches tall and 199 pounds. He is bald, with a grayish-white mustache and goatee. He sometimes wears reading glasses.

A corrections spokesman urged anyone who sees Smith to call 911.

PAUL WALSH