The husband of a woman who was suspected of shoplifting Monday afternoon at the Walmart store in Scarborough pulled the fire alarm at the store after store officials wouldn’t release her, according to police.

Sean Francis, 42, of Portland was arrested on charges of terrorizing and making a false public report. His wife, 41-year-old Marsha Francis of Portland, was charged with theft. The couple were taken to the Cumberland County Jail in Portland.

According to a post on the Scarborough Police Department’s Facebook page, Sean Francis threatened Walmart employees after they apprehended his wife for shoplifting.

“Loss prevention reported that the suspect’s husband called and threatened them to release his wife, or else. He then proceeded to pull the fire alarm inside Walmart and fled the area in a vehicle,” police reported on Facebook. “The suspect called 9-1-1 and the police department business lines several times threatening law enforcement; he also threatened a patrol sergeant in a phone call.”

Scarborough police located Francis’ vehicle on Payne Road near the South Portland line, where he was arrested.

According to police, the store was briefly evacuated after the fire alarm was set off.

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