Authorities in Burbank, California, have taken drastic measures against a restaurant that allegedly continues to violate COVID safety measures.

Burbank, a suburb of Los Angeles, erected a chain-link fence around Tinhorn Flats Saloon & Grill to prevent customers from entering the restaurant, according to local reports.

The owner’s 20-year-old son, Lucas Lepejian, has been arrested at least three times in six days for COVID protocol violations, and most recently was accused of removing sandbags that were put up along the property by the city to prevent it from reopening, the Independent said. Lepejian has since been released.

Burbank Police Lt. Dereck Green said on Friday that there was a preliminary injunction to prevent the restaurant from operating after it failed to obtain a health permit and a city conditional use permit. The city also received permission to shut off the power to the restaurant.

Customers supporting the restaurant's cause have been protesting outside the establishment, further complicating officials' ability to control the situation.

“The groups have been peaceful for the most part," Green said. "But people who live around the small-business district have been impacted by the commotion."

Tinhorn Flats Saloon & Grill has been posting on its Instagram account about the encounters with police. It said in part last week about removing the sandbags, “You can’t lock down freedom. We will not comply.”

Baret Lepejian reportedly owns the restaurant but lives in Thailand while his son runs the business. He told the news outlet that he supports his son’s actions and refuses the pay the $50,000 in fines that the city has levied against his restaurant during the pandemic.

“Show me one shred of evidence how I am endangering the public," he said. "This has never been about safety or the public. It’s never been about that. This whole thing is about fear and control.”

Los Angeles County has closed at least 30,000 restaurants for in-person dining since the pandemic began. Tinhorn Flats Saloon & Grill violated these orders and opened its doors in March, according to its social media accounts, the Independent said.

Los Angeles County has reported more than 1.2 million positive cases of the coronavirus with more than 23,000 COVID-19 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Nearly a third of the US jobs gained in March were in the hard hit leisure & hospitality sector, mostly in bars and restaurants
Nearly a third of the US jobs gained in March were in the hard hit leisure & hospitality sector, mostly in bars and restaurants AFP / Frederic J. BROWN
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