Security officers at a West Towne Mall store were threatened with scissors by a man they suspected of theft, according to Madison police.

Johnnie J. Pilgrim, 38, was arrested on suspicion of retail theft while armed after a confrontation outside the Sears store Thursday afternoon.

Two male Sears security officers, ages 29 and 38, told police they followed Pilgrim out of the store after he stole a watch. They said they asked the man to turn over the watch and noticed he was armed. They told police they thought the man had a knife and later learned it was a scissors.

The security guards said Pilgrim threatened to "slice" them.