Abington man charged with impersonating a public servant, robbery and other offenses

ABINGTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. (FOX 29) - An Abington man is arrested for impersonating a public servant and robbery, police say.

According to officials, three people were in a vehicle on the 1100 block of Colonial Avenue in Abington Township March 25, about 10 p.m. They reported a vehicle with blue and white flashing lights pulled behind them. The driver approached the vehicle and began to yell, exclaiming they were speeding and made an illegal U-turn.

The people in the vehicle believed the man was a police officer because of the flashing lights on his vehicle.

Officials say the three people were told to "give me the weed or I will let my dog out on you," by the man. They did as the man requested and the man left.

Abington police found the vehicle a short time later. Upon further investigation, police identified the suspect as 42-year-old Dennis McGowen. Police determined McGowen is not a police officer in Abington or any other municipality.

Authorities say a warrant was issued for McGowen and he was arrested March 30, about 7:30 p.m., without incident. He is charged with robbery, false imprisonment, impersonating a public servant, among other offenses.