Deputy involved in fatal Boynton shooting of Victor Arango received commendations, minor discipline

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. -- Eight incidents involving the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot a Lake Worth man at a suburban Boynton Beach bar last week were reviewed for possible disciplinary action, but six were dismissed and two involved minor infractions for which he received counseling.

Deputy Michael Suszczynski, a seven-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, remains on administrative leave since he shot 24-year-old Victor Arango in the parking lot of the 1st & 10 Sports Bar & Grill in suburban Boynton Beach before dawn on Thursday.

His personnel and internal affairs files were made available for review on Monday by the sheriff’s office.

Suszczynski’s personnel file included 18 commendations by citizens. The most recent was in 2011 when a 95-year-old woman thanked him for driving her home after she became lost while driving back from a medical procedure that left her with blurred vision. He was nominated to be named Deputy of the Month in 2008 and 2011.

Suszczynski’s internal affairs file included a 2006 incident in which he was accused of pulling his gun out of his holster too soon during the “initial phase” of a traffic stop of a car that had an obscured tag. That incident was found to be unsubstantiated.

He was accused of improper conduct in August, December and February. No disciplinary action was taken by the sheriff’s office.

Thursday’s shooting marked the fourth deputy-involved shooting since May 16, and the third in less than a week. Three of the four shootings have ended in the death of the suspect.

In Thursday’s shooting, Arango was struggling a deputy, who was trying to break up a fight between a group of men, when Arango was seen pulling out a weapon and Suszczynski fired his gun, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said last week. An eyewitness has disputed that Arango reached for the gun.