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Fort Myers officers cleared in shooting man who killed policeman
Details of downtown shootout emerge after death of FMPD officer
Andrew Widman
Abel Arango
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Officer Andrew Widman's funeral
Scenes from the Wednesday, July 23, funeral of Fort Myers Police Officer Andy Widman.
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Four Fort Myers police officers were justified in shooting at, and ultimately killing, the suspect in the murder of Fort Myers officer Andrew Widman, the State Attorney’s Office has determined.
In a letter he sent to Fort Myers police Major Doug Baker on Friday, State Attorney Stephen B. Russell said the actions of the four officers who killed Abel Arango, “were in self defense and in defense of others, and a legally justifiable use of deadly force.”
The officers are Alain Gagnon, Michael Perry, Wolfgang Daniel and Bradley Ades. All were placed on paid administrative leave after the shooting, pending the outcome of the investigation.
Police allege Arango shot Widman early in the morning of July 18 in downtown Fort Myers when the rookie officer responded to a dispute involving Arango and his girlfriend.
A new, more thorough account of the shooting, conducted by the attorney’s office and attached to Russell’s letter, elaborated on what happened.
In the account, Assistant State Attorney Dean R. Plattner and Chief Investigator Kevin Smith found that a .40-caliber bullet fired from Gagnon’s gun killed Arango. The shootout between the suspect and the four officers lasted 5 to 6 minutes, the account stated, and it said that Arango shot at the other officers, missing each time.
The account gives the following details:
Widman and Gagnon were approaching Arango outside EnVie Lounge, 2213 Main St., when Arango suddenly pulled a 9 mm handgun and shot Widman point-blank in the face. Gagnon immediately took cover, as the other officers nearby on patrol heard the shots and moved toward the scene.
When Perry and Daniel saw Arango moving south on Broadway, the suspect fired a single shot at them, missing both. Perry and Daniel together fired three shots at Arango, all of which missed. They then chased Arango south on Broadway, toward Second Street, until losing sight of him.
That’s when Ades saw Arango, and, not knowing he was the suspect, advised him to “stay out of the area for his own safety.” Arango responded by firing two shots at the officer, both of which missed. Ades then fired at Arango — four times with a shotgun and twice with a handgun — without hitting him.
Arango moved back north to the intersection of Broadway and Main Street, when Gagnon and “several other officers” saw him. Gagnon fired several shots at Arango and then lost sight of him briefly. When the officer saw Arango again, still firing the gun, he fired twice at the suspect. One of the rounds hit Arango and killed him.
Police said last week that the fatal shot hit Arango between the neck and the shoulder.
Each shot fired by officers was justified, the report concluded, as the men feared for their own safety and the safety of others around.
The full investigation will continue, Russell wrote, as additional evidence comes in.
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Hope that didnt take long to figure out...Thanks guys for saving tax payer dollars! and 1 less cop killer!
#1 Posted by weazz on July 25, 2008 at 9:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good riddance to the dirt bag. I hope these four officers keep in mind they done good. The vast majority of us can't begin to imagine the feeling of taking a persons life.
Good job guys.
#2 Posted by Scratching_My_Head on July 25, 2008 at 9:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Great job. This was a maggot problem that was solved by a few well placed shots. Someone should have done this before he got this far. Again, bro's , good job. Just think of all the pain you;ve ultimately saved any of his next victims. Glad the SAO cleared this one quick.
#3 Posted by tdavis on July 25, 2008 at 10:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Give these officers a medal for removing scum like this from the earth and sending him to hell!
#4 Posted by TiredoftheBS on July 25, 2008 at 10:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Surprisingly insightful into the psychosis that is a liberals mind Cutthroat.
Are you feeling alright?
Normally you would be crying about ANYONE getting killed with a weapon, what is the difference here?
Not that I disagree with you. Those factory hollowpoints ending Arango's life are some of the best funds ever spent.
Did you take your medications today and watch your alloted share of the Fox Network?
#5 Posted by Jadip811 on July 26, 2008 at 2:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They should have shot him a couple more times after he was dead.
#6 Posted by techie on July 26, 2008 at 6:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope his last ride was in a garbage truck, not a hearse.
#7 Posted by cousinjed on July 26, 2008 at 7:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Very interesting, Cutthroat. Pro-hunting and pro- death penalty but anti-gun.
I agree though guns in the hands of felons is usually bad. But when you start controling who can and cannot have guns it can get into gray area real quick.
Given too much power the gov't can go off on a tangent and get lost quick as well.
#8 Posted by Jadip811 on July 26, 2008 at 10:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Arango should have been his first name..."Tang" his last. Glad the officers took care of this piece of trash.
#9 Posted by PatrickBateman on July 26, 2008 at 10:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I would like to say to the 4 officers that opened fire on this dirtbag...I commend you. Good job and you did the right thing. I'm glad the SAO cleared you all and I hope your IA does too. Sorry for your loss...he was a good mand officer.
Front sight and trigger squeeze...
#10 Posted by ThinBlueLine34102 on July 26, 2008 at 2:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's too bad this dirtbag Cuban isn't still alive I would feel good inside If I could put a bullet in his Head! I'm serious
#11 Posted by CJR139 on July 26, 2008 at 5:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
CJ139.are you a cold killer like him?? That is what you look like from here.
#12 Posted by jagv0565 on July 26, 2008 at 8:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would've done the same CJR139 and not even thought twice.
#13 Posted by Jadip811 on July 26, 2008 at 9:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Where is the threat of a law suit???? Not to the 4 cops that did they're job (god bless them) but to the federal government for allowing this dirt bag that was suppose to be deported to stay in the United States in the first place. Put him in a plane take him back to Cuba, open the door, push him out and I didn't say land the plane first.
I have no problem with MOST of the Cuban people here but there is always a select few that don't deserve to be here, especially the ones the judge orders to go back home. Had this been done that poor family would not be suffering the loss that they are today. Our system is erroding daily.
#14 Posted by fishman on July 26, 2008 at 10:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
jagv0565: the only idiot that would side with a cop-killer. You never stop, do you? Still bitter about your illegal friends being deported and you being harassed for being in a drug-infested neighborhood late-night?
There is always one...
#15 Posted by jim09091 on July 27, 2008 at 2:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
be aware,they're more thugs like arango still unaccounted for...be civil to the just,be responsible for all you do...be carefull...but try to live in peace....
#16 Posted by thugjager on July 29, 2008 at 12:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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