A dramatic afternoon that began with city officials giving Madsen an hour to end a pool tournament and close for the day ended without a showdown.

Madsen had no intention of complying, he said.

“As a business owner I am not responsible for adults and their own health,” he said Saturday afternoon in front of the business.

Madsen said he was told he would be arrested if he didn’t comply, but city spokeswoman Diane Gonzolas said that wasn’t the case. 

“No arrest was threatened,” she said.

Lincoln Police were on the scene at about 1 p.m. when city officials gave Madsen an hour to shut down the tournament and the facility, but Christie said it is standard practice for LPD to escort health officials when ordering a business to shut down.

By 3:15 p.m., Madsen was informed police would not be returning on Saturday.

Pat Lopez, interim director of the county-city health department, said face masks were not the only area of noncompliance. Madsen’s, she said, also did not maintain social distancing and did not keep guests restricted to parties of eight. The department has received multiple complaints about violations at Madsen’s from Lincoln residents, she said, some containing documentation of violations.