#NJ gym owners arrested after repeatedly ignoring COVID-19 lockdown orders

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Atilis Gym owners Frank Trumbetti (left) and Ian Smith
Stephen Yang

Two New Jersey gyms owners who have repeatedly reopened in defiance of the state’s coronavirus lockdown have been arrested, police said Monday.

Atilis Gym owners in Bellmawr— Ian Smith, 33, of Delanco Township, and Frank Trumbetti, 51, of Williamstown — were charged with contempt and violation of a disaster control act, according to the Camden Couty Prosecutor’s Office.

The two owners have continually railed against Gov. Phil Murphy’s executive order amid the pandemic COVID-19 and even sued lawmakers claiming their constitutional rights were violated when they were forced to close their South Jersey gym.

Last Wednesday, Judge Robert Lougy ordered the owners to vacate the gym and stop reopening.

Yet since the ruling, the owners, as well as others, were spotted using the gym, law enforcement said.

Cops and county prosecutors asked the owners to leave but they refused, which led to the arrests, according to police.

Smith and Trumbetti were charged and released, police said.

In a post on the gym’s Facebook page Monday morning, Smith attacked the governor as “flexing his little tyrant muscles.”

“Officers from the county sheriffs entered the premises without a warrant or adhering to the signage posted on the door requesting they call first,” Smith claimed.

“This is gonna be fun in court.”