BEAVER — A western Pennsylvania sheriff’s deputy has been fired for allegedly threatening to shoot himself while drunk, although he denies that occurred.

Beaver County solicitor Myron Sainovich explained Monday the decision to fire 43-year-old deputy Joey David.

Harmony police said David argued with his girlfriend, then started threatening to harm himself while she and her two children left the house Jan. 17.

But David said he ate pizza and drank beer with his dad and wasn’t drunk when he went home. He said he argued with his girlfriend, but went straight to bed and didn’t threaten anyone, including himself.

“I was sleeping in bed the whole time” David said, and has promised to appeal his firing.