Two men given $100,000 bond on attack of man under bridge

If convicted, two men could be facing 20 to 30 years for what Guthrie police officers are saying was a planned attack after luring their victim under the viaduct and robbing him.

Sgt. Anthony Gibbs said the attack was played out on Feb. 15 under the bridge that connects Guthrie’s west side. Gibbs says multiple suspects slapped, hit and kicked the victim. Afterwards, the subjects stole items from the victim and discarding some of them into the Cottonwood Creek.  They threatened to assault the victim again if the authorities were notified.

Branden Mendinghall and Michael Friend were arrested the following day, but Gibbs says the incident remains under investigation. Additional subjects may be charged, including juvenile females.

The victim has been identified as 20-year-old Robert Blair, who was able to identify his alleged attackers. Family members say Blair was taken to the hospital for injuries sustained during the beating, including a possibly broken jaw.

Blair told KFOR he took several blows to the head from his attackers, “They were punching me in my jaw, my nose, my head. Kicked me in my back. My nose started bleeding. I was spiting up blood, and then my jaw started hurting really bad, and my tooth was stuck up here.”

Both Mendinghall and Friend are each facing first-degree-robbery following felony convictions. Both have spent time behind bars for drugs and theft convictions. Each was given a $100,000 bond and remain sitting in the Logan County Jail as of Friday morning.