A New Jersey fitness enthusiast has been arrested after he went to work out at a gym that opened in defiance of the state's stay-at-ho...
A New Jersey fitness enthusiast has been arrested after he went to work out at a gym that opened in defiance of the state's stay-at-home order.
The gym goer, who has not been named, was pictured in handcuffs and being taken into custody outside Atilis Gym in Bellmawr Tuesday, while the facility's co-owners Ian Smith and Frank Trumbetti were issued summonses by police officers ordering them to close.
The gym reopened for business Monday morning, defying Governor Phil Murphy's order for non-essential businesses to stay shuttered to slow the spread of coronavirus.
The move attracted attention across New Jersey and the gym opened its doors to crowds of supporters for the second day in a row Tuesday.
A New Jersey fitness enthusiast was arrested Tuesday after he went to work out at a gym which opened in defiance of the state's stay-at-home order
The facility's co-owners Ian Smith (left) and Frank Trumbetti (right) were issued summons by police officers ordering them to close Tuesday after they reopened Monday
Bellmawr police issued Smith and Trumbetti with summonses soon after it opened Tuesday, marking the second summonses handed down in as many days at the gym.
One gymgoer - wearing a face mask and a vest that read 'Only you can prevent dad bods' - was seen being led away in handcuffs by officers.
The man was detained after getting into a verbal altercation with an officer when he left the gym, reported NBC.
According to reports, he had refused to give police officers his name when he came out of the gym after working out.
It is not clear if he is facing charges over the incident.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Bellmawr Police Department for comment.
One gymgoer - wearing a face mask and a vest that read 'Only you can prevent dad bods' - was seen being led away by New Jersey State Police in handcuffs from the gym
A fitness fan is pictured having his details noted down by an officer in the parking lot outside the facility
Gym owners welcome customers to the gym Tuesday - one day after they reopened for the first time since March in defiance of New Jersey's stay-at-home order
Other fitness fans were also pictured having their details noted down by officers in the parking lot outside the facility.
Officers were jeered by supporters and gym-goers who had flocked to show their support for the business owners.
Supporters, some not wearing masks, waved American flags and banners with slogans reading 'Keep social distance. Wear a mask', 'Liberate New Jersey' and 'Respect law enforcement at all times. This is a peaceful gathering.'
At one point, co-owner Smith used a megaphone to address the crowds that were gathered in support.
Atilis Gym reopened at 8am Monday for the first time since it was forced to shutter back in mid-March.
Owners Trumbetti and Smith said they were reopening their business because the stay-at-home order is 'unconstitutional'.
Supporters waved American flags and banners with slogans reading 'Keep social distance. Wear a mask', 'Liberate New Jersey' and 'Respect law enforcement at all times. This is a peaceful gathering'
Co-owner Smith used a megaphone to address the crowds that were gathered outside the gym
Trumbetti speaks with police officers outside his gym Tuesday. Governor Murphy had blasted the gym owners Monday and warned that there would be a 'different reality' to anyone who turned up to the facility on the second day
'Everything we're doing is constitutional and it's our rights and we've not broken any laws and an executive order isn't a law anyway,' Trumbetti told CBS Philly Monday.
'Even if I was in violation of the executive order, I truly don't believe I am based on the verbiage he has put in his own executive orders.'
The owners have said they are not charging members to use the gym and are not making money by reopening.
They introduced a series of safety measures ahead of its reopening, according to the gym's Facebook page.
These measures include limiting the capacity to 20 percent and allowing only members inside.
Gym-goers' temperatures were also being taken on entry, and anybody with a temperature above 100.4 degrees would be turned away, the Facebook post said.
All visitors must social distance and wear face masks 'unless you are in the middle of your set'.
Showers and lockers remain closed and shared equipment is not available, it added.
Governor Murphy had blasted the gym owners Monday and warned that there would be a 'different reality' to anyone who turned up to the facility on the second day.
'I'm not concerned it will spiral out of control, and we will take action,' Murphy said.
'If you show up at that gym again tomorrow, there's going to be a different reality than showing up today. These aren't just words. We've got to enforce this, but I also don't want to start World War III.'
Under state law, the gym owners could face up to six months in county jail and be fined up to $1,000 if they continue to defy the governor's orders.
As southern states continue to ease stay-at-home orders at an increasingly fast pace, New Jersey continues to operate one of the strictest lockdowns.
Some measures have been relaxed with retail stores allowed to offer curbside pick up from May 18 and nonessential construction able to restart.
Drive-in movies and religious services can also now restart if people stay in their cars and, from Friday, batting cages, golf ranges and private tennis clubs can reopen.
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