US: California gym reopens in defiance of closure order

About a dozen masked weightlifters did sets in front of mirrors at a Southern California gym that was open Thursday despite the arrest of its owner who has been charged with a misdemeanor for violating stay-at-home orders to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Lou Uridel — wearing a mask with the pattern of stars and stripes and the words "justice for all" emblazoned across it — vowed to keep the doors open at his Metroflex Gym in the coastal city of Oceanside, north of San Diego.

But he said he warns his customers that they may be handcuffed and hauled off like he was on Sunday.

Uridel may be the first business owner arrested in California, although a smattering of businesses have defied state and local orders and re-opened. Tesla CEO Elon Musk restarted production at the company's factory in Alameda County and all but dared authorities to him. Musk won praise from President Donald Trump.

Uridel has been charged with a misdemeanor after police handcuffed him and arrested him Sunday, the San Diego District Attorney's office said. He will be arraigned in 90 days, though the arrest is still under review, spokeswoman Tanya Sierra said.

A spokeswoman for the Oceanside Police Department said Uridel will be cited for every day that the gym is open.

The fine for breaking a public health law in California is up to $1,000 or up to 90 days in jail per day of violation.

Uridel, who has the support of at least one local city councilman, said he hopes prosecutors will drop the case. He said he's had no choice but to open.

Uridel said he has taken every precaution so his customers feel safe.

He says all rules will be enforced, including no spotting, no gym bags, no showering at the gym and members must wear masks and shirts at all times. Everyone must maintain six feet of space between each other, wipe down machinery after each use, and wash hands before entering the gym and before leaving it.

Uridel said he also closes the gym every 90 minutes for deep cleaning and sanitizing.

Since he opened Friday, he as had about 120 people come in daily, staggered over a 12-hour period.

Uridel was held for only about an hour Sunday before being released. He didn't reopen his gym until Wednesday because he was told police would handcuff and arrest every customer at the facility. He later spoke to a lawyer, who told him authorities would not be able to do that.

On Thursday morning, about a dozen men all in masks were lifting weights, spaced more than six feet apart in the 10,500-square-foot gym, which is at the back of a strip mall covered in police tape to signal that businesses are closed.

Joseph Noland, 40, said he returned to the gym as soon as he got word it had reopened.

The stay-at-home dad said it's been vital to relieve stress. He said he feels safe there.

(Representative Image)