A bomb scare Monday afternoon at Royal Dane Mall forced tenants and shoppers out of the mall and onto the street.
Maria Ferreras, property manager for Armour Enterprises at Corporate Place, located at Royal Dane Mall, said the bomb threat came into the switchboard at Corporate Place at 2:30 p.m.
The caller said to have everyone get out of the building because there was a bomb inside, according to Ferreras.
The operator notified Ferreras who immediately told everyone to get out of the building and dispatched eight people from her office to notify tenants and shoppers to evacuate.
She then called 911.
"By the time we got to the bottom of the stairs, the bicycle police were already coming up," Ferreras said.
"Quite a few" people were in the mall at the time, according to Ferreras.
As tenants and shoppers were moved out of the downtown mall, Ferreras said gates were closed behind them to prevent anyone from wandering in before the police were able to comb the area.
Sgt. Reynold Fraser, supervisor of homicide, arson and explosives, responded to the call and searched the mall before allowing people to return to their businesses and shopping, according to Ferreras.
Gladys Isles, owner of Glady's Restaurant in the mall, said there were about 15 customers – "all tourists" – in her restaurant when everyone was notified to evacuate.
"We were all calm," she said, "And I guess they (the tourists) followed us."
But some of them didn't come back to pay their bills, Isles said. "They left with their drinks, too."
Isles said everyone was out on the street for about 15 or 20 minutes.
Ferreras praised the police who, she said, responded very quickly. "The police have been wonderful. They were here within minutes."
No one could be reached at the Police Department as of publication for comment on the incident.
