Accused Bucks Co. Kidnapper Dead After Standoff, Fire: DA

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — A Bucks County man awaiting a court hearing on sexual assault and kidnapping charges is dead following a standoff and fire at his home Tuesday, the Bucks County District Attorney has confirmed.

Curtis L. Fish, 48, was found dead Tuesday afternoon inside his burned-out Hilltown Pike residence. The specific cause of death remains under investigation pending the outcome of an autopsy, the District Attorney said.

The standoff began Tuesday afternoon, when Hilltown Township Police confronted Fish near his home following "a series of altercations between Fish and members of the community," according to the District Attorney's office.

An officer used a Taser to attempt to subdue Fish, who was not complying with the police. The Taser was ineffective and Fish was able to enter his home — the scene of a prior standoff with police in January.

Fish then lit and threw M-80-type fireworks at police, according to the District Attorney. Soon after, the home was fully engulfed in flames. The fire was extinguish around 3 p.m. and Fish’s body was discovered inside.

Fish had been free on bail since April 2 and was awaiting a preliminary hearing on sexual assault and kidnapping charges stemming from an incident at his home on January 1.

The District Attorney’s office had opposed Fish's release on two occasions, seeking to revoke his bail after he attempted to contact the victim from the New Year’s Day case.

Fish did not appear for a March 6 hearing on the motion, and a bench warrant was issued. He was picked up and jailed on the warrant later that day.

During a bench warrant hearing the following week, a judge ordered Fish to remain at the county prison until the bail revocation motion could be heard in court. Fish’s lawyer later filed a motion seeking the defendant’s release, according to the District Attorney.

The motion argued that Fish should not be held indefinitely as no hearing date had been set.

The District Attorney’s Office again voiced strong objection to Fish’s release but the objection was overruled and Fish was released from the jail on GPS monitoring on April 2.