The area around Adamson Barbeque in South Etobicoke was crawling with police and protestors as its owner defied a provincial court order to remain shut for a third day.

Earlier in the day Toronto Police and Public Health officials had changed the lock on the restaurant and arrested its owner, Adam Skelly.

Skelly was taken into custody by police on Thursday for openly defying the COVID-19 closure ban and charged with 13 offences, police said.

He is facing both criminal and non-criminal charges, including trespassing, intent to obstruct police, violating indoor dining rules, holding an illegal gathering and operating a business without a licence.

He was handcuffed outside the facility and placed into a police cruiser.

More than 100 mostly non-masked supporters had gathered outside Adamson for the past three days. They were shouting and swearing at the Media, the police and politicians.

The group had swarmed officers and shouted at them to let Skelly go.

A 27-year-old man from Markham was also arrested and charged with 10 offences, including five counts of spitting at an officer and two counts of uttering a death threat.

The protestors by late yesterday had set up shop protesting outside Premier Doug Ford’s home in central Etobicoke.

Ford said the group of people were posing a security risk to his neighbours.

Toronto Police Supt. Dom Sinopoli said the scene outside the restaurant was “dynamic.”

“We have now cautioned him (Skelly) up until today that our enforcement will progress and it did,” Sinopoli said.

He said he understands the frustration of some business owners during the lockdown, “but at the end of the day, if Mr. Skelly and others intend on contravening the law we will take action.”

Skelly has said he plans to reopen again.

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, police said.