Two arrested at problem Etobicoke BBQ restaurant
- by Virginia Carter
- in World Media
- — Nov 27, 2020
"I've been thinking about doing this for six months, and to be completely honest, I should have done this ages ago", said Adam Skelly, in the parking lot of his restaurant which saw lines out the door.
He said numerous officers were wearing body-worn cameras and the footage will form part of the evidence to support the charges that were laid.
"This is an integrated and coordinated effort, I can assure you, with the City of Toronto, Municipal Licensing and Standards, Toronto Public Health and the Toronto Police Service to protect the public", Ross said. Public trust and confidence in the City, at this time, is critical and Toronto residents should be assured that City officials continue to review all avenues available to them so they can continue to protect the city's health during this pandemic.
Skelly was seen first arriving at the premises shortly before 8 a.m.
The owner of a small chain of barbecue restaurants has been arrested for breaking COVID-19 restrictions.
Another person was arrested for allegedly assaulting a police officer.
Despite this, Skelly was able to access the building through a side door that accessed another business in the building, also owned by Skelly.
Skelly posted on his Instagram account that he had meant to open the restaurant for indoor dining today.
Summons include failing to have a business licence, carrying a "maximum penalty of $50,000 for a corporation and $25,000 for an individual or officer/director", two charges of Fail to Comply with an "order under the Reopening Ontario Act in relation to a gathering of more than 10 people", among others.
Dozens of anti-lockdown protesters then moved to Ontario Premier Doug Ford's home in Etobicoke Thursday afternoon.
Skelly posted on Instagram that he meant to reopen the restaurant Monday morning in direct opposition to the province's public health restrictions.
At a news conference yesterday, Toronto Police Superintendant Dom Sinopoli said the force is prepared to take further enforcement action if Skelly and his staff try to welcome patrons inside again.
