Portland Firefighter Convicted of Kidnapping After Trapping Pot Thief in Cargo Container, Jury Decides

A firefighter in Portland, Oregon has been found guilty of kidnapping after locking a thief in a cargo container. The jury reached their verdict in the case, which involved a stolen bag of marijuana. The incident occurred when the firefighter, whose identity has not been disclosed, discovered someone trying to steal the marijuana from his truck. In a bid to prevent the thief from getting away, he took matters into his own hands, locking the individual inside a cargo container. During the trial, the firefighter argued that he was acting in self-defense and to protect … Read more

Firefighter Convicted of Kidnapping in Cannabis Theft Retaliation, Faces City Employment Review

ESTACADA, Oregon – A Portland firefighter has been found guilty of two counts of first-degree kidnapping after locking a man inside a shipping container in a bid to recover stolen cannabis. Douglas Bourland, 48, had allegedly scared Colbey Fleishman into revealing the whereabouts of around 260 pounds of marijuana that he had stolen from Bourland’s business, the Oregon Hemp House. The trial lasted for three days before a Multnomah County jury delivered the guilty verdicts against Bourland. He has been on unpaid leave from Portland Fire & Rescue since his indictment in August 2021. The … Read more

Alabama Police Chief Advocates for Stricter Penalties after Woman Fakes Kidnapping

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Hoover police chief, Nick Derzis, expressed his disappointment on Thursday after Carlee Russell admitted to fabricating her kidnapping. Derzis stated that while he was happy the ordeal was over, he was disappointed that there would be no jail time for Russell. Instead, a judge sentenced her to one year of probation, 100 hours of community service, and ordered her to pay nearly $18,000 in restitution. According to Birmingham attorney Eric Guster, the punishment for Russell’s crime is appropriate. Guster noted that in a typical case, jail time would not be given. … Read more

Former NFL Player Escapes Indictment on 2023 Kidnapping Charge: Mississippi Grand Jury’s Surprising Decision

Ridgeland, Mississippi – Former NFL player Jerrell Powe will not face trial after a Mississippi grand jury decided not to indict him on a kidnapping charge. Powe, who was arrested in 2023, received notification from the Madison County district attorney’s office stating that the grand jury declined to issue an indictment. Details of the grand jury proceedings were not disclosed. The arrest took place in the Jackson suburb of Ridgeland when Powe and another individual were apprehended at a bank. The arrest came after a man claimed he had been abducted against his will in … Read more