Montco Man Pretended To Be Cop, Pulled Over 'Suspects': Police

ABINGTON, PA— An Abington man was arrested recently for pretending to be a police officer, officials said.

Dennis McGowen, 42, allegedly outfitted an SUV with flashing lights and a “Caution - K9 Inside” sticker, police said. He also aded finer touches like a bag marked "police" and handcuffs.

Then on March 25, at around 10 p.m., McGowen went on patrol.

On the 1100 block of Colonial Avenue, in the Roslyn section of the township, McGowen "pulled over" a group of people inside a parked car, police said.

He yelled at them and told them they were speeding and had made an illegal U-turn. Then things turned threatening: “Give me the weed or I will let my dog on you,” McGowen said, according to authorities.

Thinking he was a real cop, the victims gave McGowen what he asked for, and he sped away.

The Abington Police Department caught on to McGowen and tracked down his SUV shortly after that incident.

An investigation revealed that McGowen was not an actual officer, and an arrest warrant was issued. He was taken into custody on March 30 as police saw him walking near his home on the 2500 block of Susquehanna Road.

He faces charges of robbery, false imprisonment, impersonating a public servant, and related counts.

Bail was set at $25,000 and he was booked at Montgomery County Correctional Facility.

If you have any information on this case, contact Detective Anthony Space at 267-536-1107 or aspace@abington.org.