18-wheeler reported stolen by Penske Truck Leasing recovered during safety inspections in Berks

Steven Henshaw, Reading Eagle, Pa.
·2 min read

Apr. 24—As part of a motor carrier inspection detail Tuesday on Interstate 78 in northwestern Berks County, a Pennsylvania State Police trooper noticed from his perch on the Midway overpass that the driver of a tractor-trailer passing below him wasn't wearing a seat belt.

Cpl. Kevin Masinick immediately pulled out from his stationary position in Bethel Township and pursued the eastbound truck. Failure to wear a seat belt is a primary violation for commercial drivers in Pennsylvania, meaning police don't need to witness another violation to stop the vehicle, he said in the arrest affidavit.

As he pulled alongside the 18-wheeler, Masinick noticed the U.S. Department of Transportation labeling on the truck was incorrect — it was missing the "US" in front of "DOT," among other improper identifiers displays.

The trooper turned on his light and siren and the truck stopped at the off-ramp at Exit 19, Strausstown, which is the Route 183 interchange.

According to the affidavit:

The driver, Abdoul K. Conde, 52, of Hamden, Conn., provided his license and registration. When Masinick walked to the front of the cab to verify the license plate, he noticed it was missing the last digit.

A piece of paper was taped to the plate covering the last number. From his training, Masinick knew that some commercial operators will do this to trip up automatic license plate readers to avoid being charged tolls.

Conde denied knowledge of the concealed plate. Masinick returned to his patrol vehicle to run checks on the registration and got a hit for a stolen plate.

Conde was taken into custody and taken to the Hamburg station. There, Masinick spoke with the registered owner, Penske Truck Leasing in Jamaica, N.Y.

A Penske official confirmed the Freightliner tractor-trailer had been rented to Conde but the agreement expired at the end of March.

The official said he was unable to make contact with Conde by phone and waited a week before reporting the vehicle as stolen to the New York City Police Department on April 2.

Conde was charged with receiving stolen property and operating unsafe equipment.

He was committed to Berks County Prison in lieu of $15,000 bail to await a hearing following arraignment Tuesday night before District Judge Kim L. Bagenstose in Reading Central Court.