Alexander Wick, 38, pleaded no contest to several charges, including reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, and possession of a hoax destructive device.
PORTLAND, Ore. — The CEO of a Portland-based environmental tech company was sentenced to 120 days in jail after a chaotic incident that shut down Interstate 5 in June, but he’ll be released immediately for time served.
Prosecutors described Alexander Wick’s actions as “extremely alarming.” Police say he slashed car tires, threw objects onto the freeway, and claimed to have planted a homemade bomb.
The incident happened June 14, when more than 30 people called 911 about a man blocking traffic on Interstate 5 near the Failing Street pedestrian bridge. Investigators said Wick tossed cones, signs and homemade spike strips into the lanes and damaged multiple vehicles. He also claimed to have a bomb. Investigators said the device was a soda keg packed with nails and bleach.
Wick pleaded no contest to several charges, including reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, and possession of a hoax destructive device.
Wick is the founder and CEO of Cascadia Carbon, a Portland-based environmental startup that sells carbon credits to offset pollution by planting trees. KGW previously featured the company in 2022.
During sentencing, the judge acknowledged Wick’s environmental activism but warned that if he did anything like this again, he’d go to prison.