“My wife was so close to death.”
Dr. Dennis Faucher’s wife Debra, a nurse anesthetist at Bradford Regional Medical Center, allegedly entered the Foster Brook Walmart with a gun Monday night. After a brief standoff with police, she was peacefully taken into custody.
Dennis Faucher reached out to The Era Thursday to share his appreciation for the Foster Township Police’s professional response — and to say some serious workplace issues led his wife to make what could have been a fatal decision.
His wife is employed by Gulfstream Anesthesia Consultants in Florida, and works at BRMC as a contracted employee.
“This past week the situation seemed to escalate,” Faucher said of his wife’s workplace issue. His said his wife decided to resign, but per contract, was required to give 60-days notice.
“On Monday some things happened at work that escalated her anxiety and she felt that she was being pursued by someone,” Faucher said, “which resulted in her fleeing to Walmart with unfortunately her gun in her hand, but pointed down.”
He added the incident was “completely related to the stress” she was under.
“In Walmart she did not threaten anyone but instead was asking for help and for the police to be called before she was harmed,” Faucher said.
Police responded to the store, as did Faucher’s two sons. Dennis Faucher said his 24-year-old son had gone with the police, talked to his mother, helped convince her she was safe and talked her into giving up her weapon.
He had the highest praise for Foster Township Police Officer Shaun McDonald, his wife’s arresting officer. Growing emotional, Faucher said, “He saved my wife’s life. He kept his calm. He had every right to shoot — and he didn’t. I owe him her life.”
Faucher praised the police response as well. “I can’t say enough good things about it. I am so impressed and so thankful. They stayed cool when they had every right to protect their own lives.”
Debra Faucher, 57, of 265 Highwood Lane in Willow Creek, was charged Wednesday by Foster Township Police with criminal trespassing, a third-degree felony; recklessly endangering another person, a second-degree misdemeanor; and disorderly conduct, a third-degree misdemeanor.
Dennis Faucher said he had hired attorney Greg Henry for his wife’s case.
“So many people have called today or stopped in,” Faucher said, in an effort to understand why his wife — “one of the most wonderful, caring, gentle people that I have ever known” — would have acted in such a manner.
He said he appreciated the concern, and didn’t want people to think he was making excuses for her alleged behavior.
“We’ll be all right,” he said, expressing confidence that they will face and get through the matter as a family.
