Ian Smith, the owner of Bellmawr’s Atilis Gym, was arrested March 27 after police said he swerved onto Rt. 130, which is seen on dashcam video.

Once arrested, the officer states in the police report: “I immediately detected an odor of liquor on Mr. Smith and observed that his eyes were bloodshot and watery.”

On the body camera video, you can hear the officer say, “because I smell alcohol on you, I’m going to do field sobriety tests.”

The video shows Smith passing several field sobriety tests, including walking in a straight line and balancing on one leg while counting.

He also states that high winds and the suspension of his truck affected his swerve.

The officer is heard moving forward with Smith’s arrest, saying he believes Smith failed field sobriety tests.

Once Smith is in the back of the police cruiser, you can hear him say, “You know I’m running for Congress for this district, right?”

And when the officer asked if he had anything to drink, Smith replied, “I had a double margarita.”

Smith told officers he was at Central Taco in Collingswood before the arrest.

The New Jersey gym owner has become nationally known for his defiance of 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 the fines.

Banking on his popularity, Smith, a Republican, plans to run for New Jersey’s third seat in Congress. The seat is held by incumbent Democrat Andy Kim.

New Jersey’s primary election is scheduled for June.

As Smith’s popularity and profile rose, he was candid about a previous DWI arrest in 2007 that resulted in the death of 19-year-old college student Kevin Ade. Smith said he took responsibility for the fatal accident.

New Jersey Republican Party Executive Director Tom Szymanski released this statement to Action News:

“The New Jersey Republican Party has never issued endorsements in contested primaries for the Republican nomination and has not done so in this case. County parties can issue endorsements, and in this case, Mr. Smith failed to win any of the three county party organization conventions in the 3rd congressional district, in fact, those three endorsements went to Mr. Smith’s Republican opponent in the June 7 primary, the 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 released a statement on social media after the arrest saying in part: “I was arrested, took a sobriety test (in poor conditions) and was arrested by the officer. My choice not to submit to a breathalyzer test reflects my mistrust. after 2 years of persecution.”