A former Portland firefighter, Douglas Bourland, has been sentenced to 7½ years in prison for first-degree kidnapping related to a 2021 incident involving stolen cannabis. Bourland, 48, was found guilty last month of forcibly abducting Colbey Fleishman in retaliation for stealing marijuana from Bourland's unlicensed hemp store, according to OregonLive.

Fleishman, the victim, stated he made off with approximately $40,000 worth of cannabis from the Oregon Hemp House, which he had been purchasing "out the back door." The capture took place after Fleishman was lured out of Ruth's Chris Steak House, where he was dining, and into an SUV by Bourland's accomplice, Edward Simmons. According to Firehouse, Bourland's chief grower, Hong Lee, admitted to assaulting Fleishman during the kidnapping, falsely claiming that the stolen pot was owned by a cartel.

Bourland subsequently locked Fleishman in a cargo container with a menacing threat that "El Jefe is going to see you in the morning," eliciting the location of the hidden stash. It was later revealed in court testimony that no actual cartel boss was involved and it was merely a scare tactic. Bourland’s sentencing was formed under Oregon's strict mandatory minimum sentencing law, which requires serving full time without leniency for good behavior. "Ballot Measure 11 is hard time, so you will serve day for day," stated Circuit Judge Angela Lucero as reported by OregonLive.

Further details emerged during the court proceedings, with Bourland's arrest following a tip from a ride-share driver who witnessed the initial abduction. This led police to pull over Bourland while he was driving back into town. Police located Fleishman hours later after Lee revealed the location of his confinement, a metal prison, according to KPTV. Meanwhile, Portland Fire & Rescue dismissed Bourland from the bureau on the day of his sentencing.