Bladen County deputies arrest Florida fugitive in child sexual assault case

BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A man wanted in Florida on sexual assault charges was arrested in Bladen County, according to the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff’s office detectives were contacted Sept. 23 by detectives in Okeechobee, Florida, who requested help locating a suspect in a sexual assault investigation. Investigators said the suspect had ties to Bladen and Cumberland counties.

The sheriff’s office identified the suspect as Phillip Michael Walls, who was wanted in Florida with full extradition. According to the release, Walls faces charges of sexual battery on a child under 12 and lewd or lascivious battery.

The Bladen County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division and the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Task Force worked together to locate Walls.

He was taken into custody Sept. 24 at his place of employment and transported to the Bladen County Detention Center, where he remains without bond pending extradition to Florida.