Officials say Burlington police officer attacked during investigation

A Burlington police officer was attacked while trying to arrest a suspect, department officials said. A Burlington Police Department officer was on patrol near the Fletcher Free Library Monday afternoon when he noticed a vehicle he believed was stolen. When the officer attempted to arrest the driver, 41-year-old Nicholas Walls of Burlington, Walls exited the vehicle and ran away, officials said. When the officer finally caught Walls, the man allegedly punched the officer and resisted arrest until several nearby officers responded to help him into custody. Walls was arrested for simple assault on a police officer and resisting arrest. During their investigation, police learned that Walls had an outstanding warrant for his arrest from the Williston Police Department requiring him to be held without bail. Walls is a convicted felon with a lengthy criminal record, according to police, including 11 failures to appear and multiple violations of court orders and dozens of felony, misdemeanor, assault and sex crime charges.