The Bangor Walmart was closed for two weeks after an arson attack likely destroyed $10 million worth of inventory, according to court records.
Lucas Landry, 44, of Smyrna, was accused of setting fire to a men’s clothing store on Friday and made his first court appearance Monday. He is charged with arson, a Class A felony, and Class C theft, and is also suspected of violating his probation.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the Walmart in the 900 block of Stillwater Avenue was filled with smoke and sprinklers were activated after the fire broke out around 5:45 p.m. Friday. According to the affidavit, bystanders used fire extinguishers to extinguish the fire until sprinklers were activated.
Surveillance camera footage shows Landry placing his hand on the exact spot where the fire started before leaving. Smoke erupted about a minute later, according to the affidavit.
After the fire broke out, Landry left Walmart with a cart full of merchandise, according to the affidavit. He got into a pickup truck with the logo of a Hampden business.
The business owner identified Landry to police and also provided GPS tracking information showing the truck was at Walmart at the same time as the fire.
When Landry spoke to police, he denied starting the fire but admitted to taking items from the store, according to the affidavit. The stolen items remained in the work truck.
Landry’s lawyer, Shyamala Bailey, said Landry was shocked by the arson charges and was innocent.
Walmart employees were turning away shoppers Monday, saying the store had been closed for two weeks. Barriers and road closure signs blocked the driveway to the parking lot, and multiple trash cans were left outside the grocery side of the store.
Landry was on probation for theft at the time of the fire. He was granted bail of $100,000 cash and will be considered at Thursday’s hearing. He was in the Penobscot County Jail as of Monday afternoon.
He is prohibited from possessing incendiary devices and cannot return to a Walmart store if he posts bail.