Man points Bushmaster assault rifle at BPD officers, arrested

No shots were fired when a man pointed a loaded Bushmaster AR-15 assault rifle at two Bloomington Police Department officers  at 3:36 a.m. Sunday.

No one was seriously injured, BPD Sgt. Jim Batcho said. The man was tackled to his couch and removed of the weapon.

Nicholas A. Walker, 27, of 603 S. Park Square Drive, was charged Sunday for criminal recklessness with a firearm, a Class-C felony; intimidation with a deadly weapon, a Class-C felony and pointing a loaded firearm, a Class-D felony.

BPD officers David Alley and Zach Weisheit  went to Walker’s residence after receiving three noise complaints that evening.

They could hear loud music coming from the garage and knocked on the garage door, saying they ere police officers, Batcho said.

They heard someone walking around through the house. This time the they knocked on the front door, again identifying themselves as police officers responding to a noise complaint.

Walker opened the door, which remained locked by a door chain. Walker used profanity toward the officers, asked what they wanted and told them to wait a minute, Batcho said.

Walker then opened the door all the way and pointed the rifle at Alley and Weisheit. The Bushmaster AR-15 had a bullet in the chamber and two clips, each with 30 rounds, taped together containing full metal jacket .223 caliber rounds.

Alley and Weisheit drew their guns and pointed them at Walker, giving commands. Walker did not do as he was told, and Weisheit pushed the rifle barrel out of the way, striking Walker three times with his gun-hand. Weisheit tackled him onto his couch while Alley got control of Walker’s hands.

Walker was cuffed and put into a squad car, suffering a cut on his head. He was taken to Bloomington Hospital for the injury and for alcohol intoxication.

— Alex Benson