A business owner in Canada is under arrest after attempting to open his restaurant for a third consecutive day in defiance of local virus lockdown orders.
Adam Skelly, the owner of Adamson BBQ in Toronto, could be seen in videos on social media being led away from his restaurant in handcuffs by police Thursday as protesters supporting his cause yelled in the background.
“Adamson BBQ owner Adam Skelly was just taken away in handcuffs,” City News reporter Tina Yazdani tweeted, adding that he was arrested at 12:25 local time and had a “big smile on his face.”
Adamson BBQ owner Adam Skelly arrested at 12:25pm today, here’s another angle. He has a big smile on his face as he’s taken away by police. #adamsonbarbeque #adamsonbarbecue pic.twitter.com/D3M9sKLd4z
— Tina Yazdani (@TinaYazdani) November 26, 2020
Police allegedly changed the locks of Skelly’s restaurant on Thursday morning after he had opened his restaurant within the previous two days despite a closure order from the Toronto Department of Health, according to Now Toronto.
A very upset owner of Adamson Barbecue arrives at his Etobicoke location now shut down after city staff/Toronto Police with locksmiths entered bldg around 6am and changed all the locks to prevent indoor dining room from opening for third straight day-defying lockdown rules pic.twitter.com/nQqRx37jOv
— carl hanstke (@carl680) November 26, 2020
“A 33-year-old man was arrested for Attempting to Obstruct Police,” Toronto police said in a statement released shortly after 1 p.m. on Thursday.
“He has been taken into custody. More details will follow. Officers remain in the area. We continue to ask for calm.”
Adam rams through his door to his business… now is being arrested!#adamsonbarbecue #AdamsonBBQ pic.twitter.com/9x50jcYDcI
— Presidential Elect Ian Fenton ?? (@ianfenton84) November 26, 2020
Skelly went viral earlier this week after he posted on Instagram that he planned to remain open despite the government’s orders and thanked his supporters for giving him the courage to do so.
“For those of you have eyes to see why I’m doing this, thank you guys so much,” Skelly said. “Thank you for letting me know that have people in our corner. This is a risky move, and you guys gave me the gas to do this.”
Over the past few days, police and protesters have clashed over the opening, with local law enforcement telling Skelly that he is facing a total of nine non-criminal charges.
