Etobicoke restaurant owner facing new charges for again defying COVID-19 lockdown rules | CP24 - Joshua Freeman & Kerissa Wilson:
November 26, 2020 -"Two men are now facing criminal charges and the city has completely seized a building following a raucous three day-long dispute between police and city officials and a restauranteur who brazenly declared that he would open up to serve customers despite lockdown orders.... Adam Skelly, the owner of the Adamson Barbecue restaurant in Etobicoke, was arrested by Toronto police officers Thursday afternoon after a crowd of supporters allegedly broke through a cordoned-off section of the building by smashing down drywall in an effort to reopen the shuttered restaurant.
"Speaking with reporters Thursday afternoon, Supt. Domenic Sinopoli said police allowed Skelly into a section of the building “in good faith” because they didn’t believe that it fell under a closure order from Toronto Public Health. However a crowd of supporters then tried to smash through the walls to reopen the facility....
"Sinopoli said Skelly, 33, now faces one count of attempting to obstruct police, one count of mischief under, one count of failing to comply with a continued order under the Reopening Ontario Act, and one count of failing to leave when directed under the Trespass to Property Act.... He said 27-year-old Michael Belito Arana of Markham is now facing a slew of charges, including one count of obstructing police, six counts of assaulting a police officer, two counts of uttering a death threat, and one count of failing to comply with a continued order under the Reopening Ontario Act.
"Both men are expected to appear in court via video link tomorrow morning for a bail hearing. Toronto Public Health has now taken occupancy of the entire premises and police will be posting trespassing signs prohibiting people from entering the building or the adjacent parking lot, Sinopoli said.... City spokesperson Brad Ross told reporters that workers will be boarding up the building and changing the locks tonight to prevent re-entry....
"At around 6 a.m. Thursday, police returned to the restaurant for a third day in a row to change the locks under an overnight order made by Toronto Public Health. Skelly was seen first arriving at the premises shortly before 8 a.m. He asked the media to stay off the property and was seen talking with police officers. Shortly after, he entered a portion of the building where there is no access to the restaurant, through a back door to obtain personal belongings. Adamson Barbecue posted an Instagram story on their account Thursday morning saying 'need locksmith & other hands at Etobicoke asap.'
"A crowd of people surrounded the establishment in support of Skelly, who vowed to continue reopening his business despite provincial COVID-19 lockdown rules in Toronto and Peel Region that prohibit indoor dining to curb the spread of the virus.
"Crowds formed around the premises throughout the morning and many people were seen without masks or face coverings. At around 12:30 p.m., Skelly and another man were taken away from the premises in handcuffs by police officers."
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