Annie Walton Doyle
Joseph Malinowski, better known as ‘Lieutenant Dan’ on TikTok, was arrested by the Tampa Police Department on Friday morning.
The Florida sailor gained viral fame for refusing to evacuate during Hurricane Milton.
Malinowski, who lost his leg in a car accident when he was 16, has built a large social media following by documenting his life on the water.
However, following the attention he gained on social media, the viral sensation has landed in hot water with the authorities.
Malinowski’s viral fame spiked during the hurricane when he declared that he would not evacuate ahead of the storm, despite official warnings.
In one video, he compared himself to the biblical figure Noah, famously stating: “The safest place to be is on a boat in a flood. We learned that with Noah. Everyone who stayed on land drowned. Noah and the animals lived. I’m not worried.”
Speaking from his 20-foot boat as the hurricane approached, Malinowski told his hundreds of thousands of followers: “This doesn’t scare me. My life, this is nothing compared to what I’ve been through.”
He maintained that he felt safer on the water, stating his boat was secure, adding: “I’m not taking on any water, I haven’t even spilled my coffee yet.”
He shared that he had enough supplies to last weeks, expressing confidence in his ability to weather the storm.
Malinowski’s rise to internet fame has also brought attention to his criminal past, as per MailOnline.
Public records show that he has had more than 70 interactions with law enforcement in Florida and North Carolina since 2012.
His charges range from drug possession and battery to burglary and resisting police.
In one notable case, he served six months in prison for punching a police officer in the nose.
Following his release in 2022, Malinowski was also accused of setting fire to a park bench and splashing gasoline on a woman, although the case was dropped for unknown reasons.
Despite his criminal record, Malinowski’s viral storm defiance has garnered him both attention and support.
After Hurricane Milton passed, a University of Tampa student started a GoFundMe campaign for Malinowski, raising over $44,000 to help him buy a new boat.
Popular streamer Adin Ross also pledged to buy him a boat and offered to help him livestream his daily life, further boosting his online profile.
Although his internet fame has grown, Malinowski continues to face legal troubles.
The 54-year-old had two outstanding warrants for failure to appear in court and faced an additional charge of trespassing in a city park after a prior warning, according to the police report.
He was arrested after ignoring orders to relocate his boat, which authorities described as a public health hazard.
On Thursday, before the arrest, police officers had warned Malinowski that his boat did not have proper waste disposal records or a functional marine sanitation device.
They deemed his vessel a health hazard and ordered him to move it from the Bayshore Linear Park area.
When officers returned on Friday morning, the boat had not been moved, leading to his arrest.
He is expected to appear in criminal court later this year over a dispute concerning the ownership of his boat.
His TikTok bio lists him as a ‘TikTok Star,’ a title police noted on his arrest paperwork.
Despite his brushes with the law: Malinowski remains defiant about his past. Reflecting on his legal issues, he stated, “I went to prison, I did jail time, but I can tell you—I am innocent of all the charges!”
Related Article: Harrowing Final Phone Call Of Woman As She’s Eaten Alive By Bear And Three Cubs
Related Article: Missing Worker Found Trapped Behind Store Shelves After 10-Year Search
Do you have a story for us? If so, email us at [email protected]. All contact will be treated in confidence.
