Joseph Ruvido was a 21-year veteran of the San Diego Police Department and was suspended without pay when soliciting allegations came to light

A San Diego police sergeant accused of soliciting a minor for sex was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after failing to appear in court.

Joseph Ruvido, a 21-year veteran of the force – was accused of arranging to meet a minor for sex and was also suspected of attempting to commit lewd acts with a child between 14 and 15.

The 49-year-old was arrested on July 27 while off duty after an anonymous tip was sent to Crime Stoppers and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force identifying suspects soliciting sex from children.

Ruvido had been suspended from duty without pay when the allegations came to light, police said.

He was due to be arraigned on two felonies and a misdemeanor but he did not show up for his court appearance on Monday afternoon and a $150,000 bench warrant was issued for his arrest.

A team of heavily armed SWAT officers were sent to his home in Carmel Valley, California, and had to break their way in after he did not answer the door.

The former US navy and Gulf War veteran was found unresponsive at around 4.25pm and was pronounced dead at the scene, but it is not clear when he actually died, police said.

SDPD Police Chief David Nisleit said Ruvido’s death appeared to be a suicide, but there will still be an investigation, according to the LA Times.

He told a press conference: ‘After several attempts to reach him, the decision was made to force entry into his apartment.

San Diego police sergeant Joseph Ruvido (pictured when he was in the navy) was accused of soliciting a minor for sex before he was found dead from ‘self-inflicted gunshot wound’

‘Once inside, officers found him deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

‘We had sent our chaplains, we had sent our wellness unit and several officers out there to try to make contact [with] him ever since he bailed.

‘We sent resources there to make contact with him. Unfortunately all those attempts we were unable to contact him.

‘All signs, all indications are that this is a suicide. Like many of you, I too have many questions that remain unanswered. This is still an unfolding investigation.’

Ruvido was due to appear at Superior Court of San Diego but he did not show up, prompting a SWAT team to be sent to his home

Neighbors reported not seeing Ruvido since he was released on bail and that his car had not been in the condo complex garage since the following weekend, according to NBC 7.

Despite Ruvido the case will still be investigated, Nisleit said. Prosecutors and police have not revealed if Ruvido was caught in an undercover operation of if the incident involved an actual child.

At the time of Ruvido’s arrest Nisleit told a news conference it was a ‘very embarrassing’ situation for the department.

According to SDPD’s Facebook page, Ruvido was highlighted in 2016 for his service in the US Navy for eight years.

He was deployed in the first Gulf War as part of Desert Shield and Desert Storm with the 1st Marine Division 1st Tank Battalion from 1990 to 1991.