An Anchorage man suspected of sexually abusing a child died after shooting himself Thursday just before detectives could arrest him, a police spokeswoman said.
The police had warrants Thursday to arrest John Fields, 44, and search his home in the 700 block of North Pine Street. The detectives knocked on Fields' door about 9 a.m. but nobody answered.
"They forced entry into the home, because they had a search warrant," police spokeswoman Anita Shell said. "(They) did not know he was there, because he didn't come to the door."
Fields pointed a handgun at his head when the detectives came inside, Shell said.
"They shouted for him to stop and then he pulled the trigger," she said. All the officers' guns, per protocol, were inspected. They were not fired."
Paramedics rushed Fields to a hospital and he died about 4:15 p.m., police said. Fields' death went unreported late Thursday because police could not contact his next of kin, Shell said.
Officers checked Fields' records, including work and hospital records, and could not find good phone numbers for his listed emergency contacts, Shell said.
"Somebody said he left his family years ago and never looked back," she said.
Police would still like to notify Fields' family of his death, Shell said. His place of birth is listed as Covington, Ga., she said.
Detectives still think Fields may have had other victims, police said.
Police spokesman Lt. Dave Parker said in a written statement Thursday that Fields often went by the name "Jack" or "John Michael Meyers." Police are asking anyone with information about additional possible victims to call detective Leonard Torres at 786-8573.
Reach Casey Grove at casey.grove@adn.com or 257-4589.
By CASEY GROVE
Anchorage Daily News