The last few months have been hard for gym owners, as many of them have been forced to close their doors. Apparently New Jersey gym owners Ian Smith and Frank Trumbetti did not want to follow their state’s guidelines, which has resulted in their arrest.
Smith and Trumbetti own the Atilis Gym, in Bellmawr, New Jersey. The last several months have seen them battling with officials, over the guidelines in place in the state, regarding health and safety under COVID-19 protocols. The state is not allowing gyms to operate at this time, but Frank and Ian decided to go against that order, and keep their doors open anyway.
Apparently this has turned into an even bigger situation, as both Ian Smith and Frank Trumbetti, were both arrested. According to reports, the pair had removed a door from their facility, and were living inside, in an act of defiance to their local legislation. As a result, they were issued a contempt order on Friday, ordering them to cease the operation of their gym. When they refused to obey this order, they were arrested by the Camden County Sheriff’s department.
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The charges Smith and Trumbetti will be facing include fourth-degree contempt, as well as obstruction and violation of a disaster control act. Both men were processed and charged early Monday morning, before being released shortly thereafter. Following this incident, a representative for Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal issued a statement on the matter.
“After Atilis Gym refused to comply with multiple criminal citations and Superior Court orders, including a contempt-of-court order issued Friday, today law enforcement entered the premises to ensure closure of the gym and to abate the public health risks,” said the spokesperson. “As the attorney general previously said, the state wishes it had not come to this, but the gym refused to comply even with a contempt order.”
Obviously this is a trying time for a lot of gym owners. It is unfortunate that Frank Trumbetti and Ian Smith were arrested, while they were trying to make a living. They are far from the only people frustrated by this situation.
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