A missing trailer registration tag was all it took to unravel what Quakertown police say turned into a suspected pipe bomb discovery. The device was found stuffed inside a jacket pocket in an impounded 2009 Ford Expedition, and the driver now sits in Bucks County Correctional Center facing a felony charge that carries the weight of a second-degree felony under Pennsylvania law.
A Trailer Tag Starts It All
The traffic stop happened on Oct. 20 on West End Boulevard, after an officer noticed that a trailer attached to the SUV was missing its registration, according to PhillyBurbs. The driver, identified as 31-year-old Scott Albert Jr. of Orwigsburg, told the officer he did not have a driver's license. He also failed to produce proof of insurance, though he did hand over a copy of his vehicle registration.
Rather than arrest Albert on the spot, the officer let him walk away from the scene. His SUV wasn't so lucky — it was impounded and hauled to a secured lot, setting up the discovery that would follow.
Inventory Search Opens the Door
Once the Expedition was in police custody, an inventory search turned up a glass smoking pipe with suspected methamphetamine residue, the outlet's report notes. That find gave officers probable cause to seek and execute a search warrant on the vehicle, and what they uncovered next escalated the case considerably.
Inside the SUV, police found a 9-millimeter shell casing tucked under the rear passenger seat, along with a black leather jacket covered in multiple sewn-on patches. Inside one of the jacket's pockets, officers discovered a white PVC pipe with a green fuse sticking out and two glued caps sealing each end — the hallmarks of a homemade explosive device.
Bomb Squad Confirms Gunpowder
The Allentown Bomb Squad was brought in to assess the device and confirmed it contained gunpowder after evaluation and scanning, per the same report. The squad then took the item for further testing and evaluation by the FBI.
Albert was arraigned Nov. 6 on a felony charge of weapons of mass destruction, along with related misdemeanors including recklessly endangering another person. District Judge Lisa Gaier denied him bail at the arraignment, citing Albert as a danger to the community. He was transferred to Bucks County Correctional Center, and as of Nov. 6, he had no legal representative listed on the public court docket.
What Pennsylvania Law Says
Under Pennsylvania's Title 18, Section 2716, a bomb is defined simply as an explosive device used for unlawful purposes, and a first offense under the relevant subsection is classified as a felony of the second degree. That classification underscores the seriousness of the charge Albert now faces as his case moves forward in Bucks County.
