Erving Walker cited for stealing taco

Erving Walker wanted a taco.

Badly enough to flee without paying for it, according to an arrest report filed by the Gainesville Police Department early Friday morning.

Arresting officer Visvambhara Nicoloff noted that Walker ordered a $3 taco from a street vendor around 1 a.m. in downtown Gainesville, but fled the taco stand without paying.

The former Florida point guard was caught by police offers and charged with petit theft and resisting arrest without violence. He was given a notice to appear with a court date at 9 a.m. on April 19.

Nicoloff confronted Walker when he got to University Ave., ordering him to stop. Walker looked back and continued sprinting away from him.

According to the arrest report, Nicoloff was able to catch Walker about two blocks away with the help of several marked patrol vehicles.

Walker said he was “just playing around.” However, he admitted he knew he was being chased and that he stole the taco, according to the report.

This is the second time Walker has been charged with resisting arrest without violence. He was cited for doing so on Sept. 12, 2008, but he completed a deferred prosecution agreement on Feb. 23, 2009.

As a senior, Walker averaged 12.1 points and 4.6 assists per game.

He finished first in Florida history in assists, first in minutes played, second in three-pointers made, second in games played, fourth in scoring, fifth in games started and ninth in steals.

Gator Country reporter Adam Pincus contributed to this story.