GILA COUNTY — Traffic on U.S. 60 near Gold Canyon was brought to a standstill for hours last Tuesday as law enforcement responded to a standoff involving a Mesa fugitive who later died of what police say appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Traffic shut down in both directions
Authorities closed both eastbound and westbound lanes of U.S. 60 after locating 42-year-old Justin Meritt near Silly Mountain Road in Apache Junction just after 2:30 p.m. Officers attempted a traffic stop, but Meritt refused to exit his vehicle, prompting the involvement of the Mesa SWAT team…