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James Wooten, 26, and Benjamin Timothy Moore (right) , 27, each pleaded not guilty Tuesday morning to 11-count indictments stemming from an Oct. 3 robbery and attack on the Burnside Bridge.

(MCSO)

Two Portland men were arraigned Tuesday morning on robbery, assault and coercion charges in an 11-count indictment stemming from the Oct. 3 attack of two tourists on the west end of the Burnside Bridge.

Benjamin Timothy Moore, 27, and James Wooten, 26, are accused of confronting two California men who were walking back to their hotel about 2 a.m. on the bridge.

Wooten, according to witnesses, pulled out a red razor-style folding knife and put it to Joseph Tadlock's chest and demanded, "Empty your pockets!'' according to a probable cause affidavit.

Tadlock told police he emptied the contents of his pockets onto the ground and threw his wallet over the guardrail.

Wooten then ordered Tadlock to take off his clothes, police said. Wooten cut the laces on Tadlock's boots, also cutting Tadlock's shin, the affidavit said. Once Tadlock was naked, Wooten ordered him to "get the (expletive) out of here, run!'' the affidavit said.

Tadlock told police he ran about 20 yards and looked back, and saw Wooten punching his friend, Jacob Harris, in the face as Harris was up against a guardrail. He saw Wooten grab Harris by the shirt collar, drag him to the ground and then kick him in the head, the affidavit said.

Harris, 22, told police that Wooten yelled at him, "Get naked or get stabbed!'' Harris told police he started undressing because he feared for his life. When he was halfway undressed, Moore kicked him in the face, the affidavit said.

Tadlock, 22, was taken to a local hospital, where he received stitches to his leg.

A couple reported to police that about 20 minutes earlier, they were walking east on the south side of the Burnside Bridge and saw Wooten walk toward them. They said he appeared under the influence of something and lunged at one of them with what looked like a knife, the affidavit said.

Police found Moore and Wooten under the bridge. A red pocket knife was in Wooten's pocket and Harris' phone was next to Moore, the affidavit said.

Both Moore and Wooten entered not guilty pleas. They're charged with two counts of first-degree robbery, four counts of second-degree robbery, two counts of third-degree assault and one count each of second-degree assault and coercion.

They're both being held at the Multnomah County Detention Center.

--Maxine Bernstein