NJ congressional candidate, gym owner who defied COVID restrictions accused of DWI
Ian Smith, the owner of Bellmawr's Atilis Gym, was pulled over on March 27 after police say he was swerving on Rt. 130.
CINNAMINSON, New Jersey (WPVI) -- A New Jersey Republican congressional candidate and gym owner who became nationally known for defying COVID-19 restrictions was arrested for DWI last month.
Ian Smith, the owner of Bellmawr's Atilis Gym, was pulled over on March 27 after police say he was swerving on Rt. 130, which is seen on dashcam video.
Once pulled over, the officer states in the police report, "I could immediately detect an odor of alcoholic beverage on Mr. Smith and observed his eyes being bloodshot and watery."
On the body camera video, you can hear the officer say, "because I smell alcohol on you, I'm going to run some field sobriety tests."
The video shows Smith taking multiple field sobriety tests, including walking a straight line and balancing on one leg while counting.
He also states that the high winds and his truck's suspension affected his swerving.
The officer is heard going forward with arresting Smith, saying he feels Smith failed the field sobriety tests.
Once Smith is in the back of the police car you can hear him say: "You know I'm a congressional candidate for this district, right?"
And when asked by the officer if he had anything to drink, Smith replies, "I had a double margarita."
Smith told the officers he was at Central Taco in Collingswood prior to the stop.
The New Jersey gym owner became nationally known for his defiance over New Jersey's COVID restrictions.
He kept his gym open, racking up hundreds of thousands in fines. But he grew a massive following. Many of his followers donated to keep his gym open and paid for the fines.
Banking on his popularity, Smith, a Republican, plans to run for New Jersey's third congressional seat. The seat is held by Democratic incumbent Andy Kim.
The New Jersey Primary Election is scheduled for June.
When Smith's popularity and profile grew, he was candid about a previous DWI arrest in 2007 that left 19-year-old student Kevin Ade dead. Smith said he had taken responsibility for the fatal crash.
Tom Szymanski, executive director of the New Jersey Republican Party released this statement to Action News:
"The New Jersey Republican Party has not historically issued endorsements in contested Primaries for the Republican nomination and has not done so in this instance. County Parties may issue endorsements, and in this case Mr. Smith was not successful in winning any of the three County Party organizations' conventions in the 3rd Congressional District, in fact all three of those endorsements went to Mr. Smith's Republican opponent in the June 7th Primary, business owner and philanthropist Bob Healey."
Andy Kim's campaign had no comment.
Smith declined an interview on the advice of his attorney. But he did post a statement on social media after the arrest saying in part, "I was pulled over, passed a sobriety test (in poor conditions), and was arrested by the officer. My choice to not submit to a breathalyzer reflects my distrust after 2 years of persecution."
