A man accused of crimes against children died after an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound during a traffic stop by Mesa detectives on the U.S. 60, causing an hours-long closure, according to police officials.

Detectives spotted 42-year-old Justin Meritt driving on the U.S. 60 near Silly Mountain Road in Apache Junction on Nov. 25, and they conducted a traffic stop at about 2:30 p.m., according to a Mesa Police news release sent Nov. 26.

Police had developed probable cause to arrest Meritt on suspicion of serious felony crimes, following a call for service at about 3 p.m. Nov. 24 in the 10000 block of Juanita Avenue, the news release stated. Information about that call was not immediately available.

Once Meritt's vehicle stopped, he did not respond or get out despite multiple verbal c

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