Next stop: Arraignment, for man charged with punching cabbie in drunken rage at Wonderland

Transit Police report arresting a Lynn man on charges he punched out a cab driver who couldn't understand his drunken rambling and ordered him out of the cab.

According to police, James Rogers, 52, got into the cab at Wonderland station shortly before 11 a.m. on Thursday and:

Began to mumble incoherently. Rogers apparently intoxicated was asked by the victim to repeat the address he would like to be driven to. Rogers responded by verbally berating and insulting the victim. The victim informed Rogers he would have to seek another means of transportation and requested he get out of his taxi. Rogers exited the taxi opened the front passenger door, leaned in and punched the driver/victim in the face. Rogers then fled the area.

But he didn't flee far; police say officers caught up with him on North Shore Road behind the station. He was charged with assault and battery on an elderly person. The cabbie, 70, was treated for a bloody nose.

Innocent, etc.