WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – Video shows a man kicking an elevator in the Trust Building in downtown Wilmington.
In the video, people can also be heard, clearly scared. Investigators say those passengers ended up getting stuck for close to an hour. Police say the man in the video caused so much damage, the elevator stopped working.
One business in the building is now temporarily closed.
Jesse Davis, the owner of The Penthouse, sent WECT the security camera footage from the Trust Building. He says without the elevator up and running, he can’t operate his business.
He says his vendors use that elevator to deliver supplies, and of course, his members use it to get to his club, but now his business is closed. He claims he’s had to cancel 13 events, which leaves him out thousands of dollars.
“I just hope I don’t lose my business right now. I mean without that elevator I cannot operate full time,” said Davis.
Davis’ business is located on the ninth floor of the Trust Building.
“Unfortunately, I’m really scared right now of losing my business. This elevator, we heavily rely on this. Just a case of water — the wine, the beer, the liquor, and then all of that has to come up nine floors,” said Davis. “Then the guests, we’re taking the chance, it’s an older clientele, they can’t walk 9 floors just to get a drink.”
Because of this, he can’t operate his business.
“We’re just sitting on the sidelines, and I’m watching my business go down in smoke,” said Davis.
Wilmington police say the man in the video is clearly under the influence and confused, thinking he’s inside an elevator, failing to notice the exit sign to his right.
Police have not made an arrest and say they don’t have enough information to press charges, but Davis says he knows this man’s name.
An attorney who says he represents the person accused of damaging the elevator said, “There are multiple civil lawyers involved each respectively representing the building owner, the bar’s landlord, and my client. Hopefully, the matter can be amicably resolved prior to a lawsuit being filed and if not we will respond in court,” he said.
Davis says he Is hoping for the same.
“I’m hoping we can come to some solution to all this, and everyone can all get along again, and we can all resume our businesses and this will be something in the past,” said Davis.
Davis says he pays for security for his private club, especially since people live in the building too. He says the man in the video was never supposed to be there and lied to his doorman.
The video seen above took place on the seventh floor after the man tried to go to The Penthouse and was kicked out, according to Davis.
The elevator has been broken since the beginning of June. Davis claims the elevator could cost nearly $50,000 to repair.
As for who’s responsible for paying for that? That’s still unknown.
He’s been told it could be fixed by the end of this month or the beginning of August.
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