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Cops: Men attacked taxi driver, left ID cards behind – Metro US

Cops: Men attacked taxi driver, left ID cards behind

(Credit: Getty Images) (Credit: Getty Images)

A pair of men were arrested for allegedly beating a taxi driver after they left behind identification cards that helped police track them down.

Christopher LaFrance, 25, of Arlington and Jacob Shaps, 24, of Boston, are expected to be arraigned in court Monday on charges of unarmed robbery, intimidation of a witness and assault and battery.

Arlington Police said the taxi picked up the men at the Alewife MBTA station Saturday night and they wanted to go to an address in Arlington.

The driver said the fare was about $20, but LaFrance allegedly used his credit card to pay $2 of the fare. When the driver told the men they still owed money, they began to argue and one of them allegedly started punching the driver. When he reached for his cell phone, one of the men allegedly grabbed it and threw it out the window.

After fleeing, the driver called police and found several cards with LaFrance’s name on them in the back of the car.

Arlington officers went to LaFrance’s home and found the men inside. The driver positively identified them, police said.

“I wish to commend the cab driver for coming forward and positively identifying his alleged assailants,” Chief Frederick Ryan said in a statement. “The Arlington Police Department takes cases like this very seriously, and we are relieved that he was not badly hurt.”

Follow Michael Naughton on Twitter @metrobosmike.