Christopher Jobson, CEO of the popular fried chicken chain Falmouth Chicken, is crying foul after what he describes as an abrupt and unexplained police lockdown of his business, which officers say stems from a murder committed in the town of Falmouth. Jobson says the shutdown has severely crippled his Falmouth operations and is draining millions of dollars from his pockets at the height of the Christmas season.

He explained that the ordeal began on Sunday, November 16, when he received a call from staff around 9:30 pm informing him that police officers had ordered the restaurant closed.

According to Jobson, he was informed the business should have shut its doors at 9:00 p.m. and insisted the closure was necessary because of the recent murder. Jobson said the timing made little sense.  “You come in at 9:30 telling me I should close at 9:00…that is strange,” he said.

Even after staff explained that a fresh batch of chicken had just been placed in the fryer, the officer reportedly ordered the establishment shut down. “I had to throw it away,” he said.

The business owner said the lockdown, now stretching for more than three weeks, has already cost him millions in revenue from the restaurant alone. He noted that the property also includes a bar and a gaming lounge, which are also seeing reduced traffic.

Despite contacting his attorney—who has formally written to the police—Jobson said he has received no official communication or explanation beyond the initial claim that the lockdown is related to the murder investigation.

Jobson said the clampdown is especially painful given the government’s repeated calls for businesses to help keep economic activity steady. With Christmas approaching, Jobson said he is bracing for even heavier losses as customer turnout continues to dwindle.  “Every day my sale is getting less, less, less,” he said. “The people are confused. Some say lockdown, some say no lockdown. Nobody is turning out, and my business goes up until 11 o’clock at night.”

He added that he has never had issues with crime or disorder at his establishment and has never needed police intervention. What frustrates him even more, he said, is the inconsistency of enforcement. He claimed that while his business is forced to shut down nightly, vendors in other parts of the town continue operating openly. 

“I walk on the road and see vendors uptown playing music like a big festivity,” he said. “So maybe when the police leave they come back. I don’t know.”

Jobson said the situation is heartbreaking, especially after battling back from Hurricane Melissa damage and keeping his business running on generator power during the weeks-long blackout.

“Falmouth Chicken alone operated until midnight with two generators when it was total darkness,” he said. “And since we got light, that is when they are telling us about lockdown.” As the uncertain shutdown drags on, the restaurateur is pleading for clarity—and for the chance to reopen fully before the festive season slips away.