Ex-wife of man accused in death of APD officer speaks out

ABBOTSFORD (NEWS 1130) – Three days after veteran Abbotsford Police Constable John Davidson was killed on the job, we are learning more about the man now charged with his murder.

Hope Arfmann says she left her ex-husband, Oscar, decades ago because of emotional abuse. She describes the pair’s split after less than three years, as “tense”, which was made worse by a condition that caused her to blackout when distressed.

She describes the day she left. “And he says ‘well you ain’t going unless I let you go and I ain’t lettin’ ya go.’ And that’s all I heard.”

A short time after that she says she found a knife in the wall but says her then husband had changed his mind about letting her go.

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Man charged with murder in Abbotsford police officer’s death has no criminal record

Hope says Oscar remarried and was with his wife Patricia for more than 40 years until she died in 2013 and that her death hit him hard.

“Ya, I’m sure he took it quite hard. The only thing that he really loved was Patricia.”

According to the 65-year-old’s former spouse, he spent a lot of time shooting small rodents and birds.

“The birds deserted the area, the squirrels, the gophers. Anybody and everybody spread the word, stay away from that area.”

Investigators responded to reports of a possible stolen vehicle outside a shopping complex on Mt Lehman Road near Automall Drive Monday morning. According to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, police believed shots were fired toward bystanders after the stolen car was blocked in by a 911 caller trying to help.

Oscar Ferdinand Arfmann has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Davidson, who was struck during gunfire with the suspect.

Cst. Davidson had been with the department for 11 years.

IHIT is now asking the public for any video or pictures taken during the incident. Any witnesses who have not yet spoken to police or anyone with additional information are asked to contact investigators at 1-877-551- IHIT (4448), or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

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