Criminal charges against a former Penn Hills police officer have been dropped nearly a year after he was charged with spinning out another car and resisting arrest in Plum.

Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Kevin G. Sasinoski on Friday tossed out all charges against Dennis Pape, including recklessly endangering another person, obstructing administration of law and resisting arrest stemming from a June 26, 2025, incident.

The dismissal comes after Pape’s attorney, Casey White, filed a writ of habeas corpus, which argued that prosecutors had not provided enough evidence for the charges against his client.

Plum police said Pape used a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver — a method used to end chases by intentionally colliding with another car and causing it to spin and stop — after a man attempted to pass him by crossing a double yellow line into the opposing lane of traffic on Universal Road near Monico’s Bar and Grille.

At the scene, Plum police said Pape became aggressive toward officers and the other driver and resisted police efforts to place him in handcuffs.

But White said his client never performed a PIT maneuver and was, instead, a “victim of dangerous driving by another individual.”

White also said Pape never resisted arrest and should not have been detained in the first place. The charges against Pape, he said, were “filed on emotion by the arresting officer” — Plum Officer Jacob Kingerski.

“Having a verbal disagreement with law enforcement is not a crime, let alone obstruction of justice,” White said. “The arresting officer made initial unprovoked contact with Mr. Pape, and he simply reacted to this officer’s unwanted physical contact. He was then slammed on top of the hood of his vehicle and arrested.”

According to police, Pape asked for “a little courtesy,” since he had been an officer for more than 20 years and later swore at an officer and asked for his supervisor.

Though White described Pape as “disrespectful” and “argumentative” to police in his habeas corpus filing, he said Pape’s actions did not amount to crimes.

Pape plans to pursue “civil remedies based on (Kingerski)’s actions that day,” according to White.

“My client is grateful for the court’s consideration and looks forward to moving forward with his life and reputation restored,” White said.

Pape is not listed as a police officer on the Penn Hills website. The last time he was listed as an officer there was 2023.

Plum police spokesman Det. Joe Little did not immediately respond to a TribLive request for comment.