Organizers arrested following large anti-lockdown protests in downtown Toronto

Toronto police have arrested three participants in two separate anti-lockdown protests downtown Saturday afternoon, the same day the province saw 3,056 new COVID-19 cases and a record number of 420 patients in intensive care units.

Videos surfacing on social media show hundreds of protestors gathered at Nathan Phillips Square and Yonge-Dundas Square defying public health measures and denouncing the provincial stay-at-home mandate.

According to the mandate, no more than five people can gather outdoors, and then only if they wear masks and stay a distance of six feet or two metres away from each other.

Police issued a statement on Twitter addressing the gathering, saying, While we recognize the right to lawful protest, the existing emergency orders prohibit large gatherings of more than five people."

Officers were dispatched to the scene shortly after, issuing tickets and dispersing the crowd.

Organizers of the protest were criminally charged.

Lamont Daigle, 49, and Kelly Anne Farkus (Wolfe), 38, were arrested at Nathan Phillips Square and Yonge Dundas Square. Both were charged with common nuisance.

A 22-year-old man was also arrested after allegedly assaulting an officer. Conor Chappell has been charged with one count of assaulting a police officer and obstructing justice.

Police later confirmed in another statement that 18 fail-to-comply orders were issued at Yonge and Dundas Square.

Ann Marie Elpa is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: aelpa@thestar.ca