WALDORF, Md. — A 27-year-old Silver Spring man faces motor vehicle theft and traffic charges after he allegedly stole a 2015 Kenworth truck tractor from a service center parking lot in Waldorf and led law enforcement on a pursuit that crossed into St. Mary’s County early February 5.
At approximately 2 a.m., a Charles County patrol officer was flagged down near Ell Lane and Route 5 by the vehicle’s owner, who reported the truck cab—without trailer attached—had been stolen. The victim stated the truck was traveling southbound on Route 5 and was being actively tracked via GPS. Officers located the vehicle near Leonardtown Road and Bryantown Road in Waldorf and attempted a traffic stop. The driver failed to stop and continued south toward St. Mary’s County.
Deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded, controlled intersections along the route, and deployed stop sticks. The devices disabled the truck near Friendship School Road in St. Mary’s County. The driver, identified as Bereket Eshetu Beyene, 27, of Silver Spring, Maryland, was taken into custody without further incident.
The investigation confirmed the truck had been taken from a service center parking lot in Waldorf. Charles County Sheriff’s Office investigators handled the case, with assistance from St. Mary’s County deputies in stopping the vehicle.
Beyene was charged with motor vehicle theft and related traffic violations. On February 5, a judge set bond at $5,000, allowing his release from the Charles County Detention Center pending court proceedings.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about vehicle thefts in commercial areas of Southern Maryland, where large trucks and equipment remain targets due to their value and mobility. The coordinated response between Charles and St. Mary’s County agencies demonstrated effective inter-jurisdictional cooperation to recover the stolen property and apprehend the suspect swiftly.
No injuries were reported during the pursuit, and the truck sustained damage from the stop sticks but was recovered intact. Authorities have not released additional details about the service center or potential motives.
This case remains under investigation by the Charles County Sheriff’s Office.