Arpad Sooky, a 43-year-old male of Hungarian ethnicity, died on August 12, 2022, in Center Township, Pennsylvania. He was a former dentist who had a practice in Ambridge, Beaver County. Sooky's death occurred under highly unusual circumstances while he was in police custody. According to reports, he shot himself with his own gun while handcuffed in the back of a Center Township police vehicle.
The incident began when Center Township police, along with ATF agents and Beaver County
detectives, served a search warrant at Sooky's home. The warrant was executed due to the discovery of a large number of firearms, including assault rifles and materials for making ghost guns, which Sooky was not allowed to possess. During the search, Sooky was taken into custody, and while being transported to the police station, he managed to shoot himself with a second weapon that had not been confiscated.
Following his death, Sooky's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Center Township, alleging that the police failed to properly search him for additional weapons and missed a second gun. The lawsuit also claimed that the police were aware of Sooky's mental health issues and his possession of multiple firearms but did not remove them from his home despite several complaints. Beaver County District Attorney David Lozier requested that Pennsylvania State Police conduct a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding Sooky's death.
The investigation revealed that Sooky had been struggling with personal issues, including the loss of his dental practice and a divorce, which contributed to his deteriorating mental health. Neighbors reported that Sooky's parents were afraid of him and had sought help from them during his outbursts. Despite the tragic circumstances, questions remain about how Sooky was able to access a weapon while in police custody and why the police did not find it during their search.
In summary, Arpad Sooky's death was a complex and tragic event involving issues of mental health, police procedures, and legal actions by his family. The investigation and subsequent lawsuit continue to seek answers and accountability for the circumstances that led to his death.
