Saturday, July 19, 2008

Officer Down

Officer Down


Officer Andrew Widman, 30, was shot in the face at close range while attempting to break up a fight between a man and woman.

The incident took place at a local night club in Fort Myers and police were called for a disturbance. According to witnesses the suspect said “he was going out Miami style and he was going to take an officer with him.”

The suspect was indentified as Abel Arango, 26. Once he shot Widman at close range in the face, he ran. While running he opened fire on 4 other officers on scene and they of course returned fire and killed Arango.

Arango was out on bond while awaiting trial on drug charges and probation violation charges. According to the Florida Department of Corrections, Arango spent more than 4 years in prison on convictions for burglary, robbery, grand theft and carrying a concealed weapon. He was released on March 1, 2004. In May he was charged with violating probation on those convictions after he was arrested on drug charges. His attorney said he was free on $100,000 bond.




Please observe a moment of silence for Officer Andrew Widman.


The flag at Fort Myers city hall is now half-staff in honor of the officer.

“A piece of America died today,” said Fort Myers city councilman Johnny Streets, a former police officer. “A piece was plucked out of the flag.”

Widman was the first officer shot and killed in the line of duty in more than 80 years in Fort Myers.

Widman, who had previously done missionary work, had been with the police department since April 2007, He was married, with three children between the ages of 2 and 5.

"He was a good guy," Baker said. "He'll be missed by his peers."

Humphrey said it was “one of the saddest days in the life of this city.”

True Crime Cases expresses its condolences to the officer, his family and the police department.

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