LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) – Victor Camona hoped to leave some memories for his family when they loaded the trailer and drove from his Michigan home to Georgia. Little did he know that the wildest memory would be made during the last leg of his journey home.
“I just feel bad for people who were enjoying New Year’s Eve and having fun in the bars,” said Carmona.
Carmona’s vehicle was the target of a holiday scare in the city center. He parked in an open-air parking lot on the corner of West Short and Market streets, while the family spent New Year’s Eve at a nearby hotel. But just six days after a bomb exploded inside a similar vehicle in downtown Nashville, Lexington police were concerned about a possible imitation incident. Then they evacuated bars and restaurants in the former Cheapside Park area for more than two hours to investigate.
“The next thing I know, we are being evacuated from the hotel and then the police came to speak to my wife,” said Carmona.
Steve Scaldaferri’s Elixir establishment was right on the line of potential fire, as it is across the street.
“Because Nashville just happened, it was fresh in everyone’s mind,” he said. “It’s an unfortunate circumstance, but (the police) did it, and they did things right.”
Now Scaldaferri is trying to do things right. He cleared all accounts that were running at the time of the evacuations and invited everyone to come back and try again tonight.
“We are going to bring our DJ. Let’s leave all the balloons up and leave the decoration out. We will recreate as much as we can, ”he said of the plan for Friday night.
Recreate everything except, he hopes, another bomb scare.
“They were very friendly last night, but as aggressive as they should be,” said Scaldaferri of the Lexington police. He also thanked you for your work. Carmona too.
“I am happy that the police are doing their job. After what happened in Nashville, I totally understand, so I’m happy that the police did what they had to do. I’m glad they really take care of their citizens, ”added Carmona before putting the trailer into gear and heading back to Michigan.