ST. LOUIS — Just hours after he was released from prison after serving about six years for murder, police say David M. Twine robbed and assaulted a 77-year-old cab driver, who also is a Baptist preacher with a religious radio show.

Earnest Greenlee, of Hazelwood, said he has been driving a cab for more than 20 years and that this was the first time he ever had a problem with one of his passengers.

He said he picked up Twine from the Greyhound bus station in downtown St. Louis on July 11, and that Twine told Greenlee he had just been released from prison and needed to cash a $1,200 check for a bond return, according to court documents.

After about two hours and several unsuccessful attempts to cash the check at different locations, Greenlee told Twine, 38, that he had another passenger to pick up at 10:30 p.m. and would have to drop him off.

He drove to a gas station near Clark and Jefferson avenues when Twine suddenly started hitting Greenlee in his head, neck and side, according to the documents.

“I’ve got a left hook, so I’m trying to get out of the seat belt and I hit him,” Greenlee said.