Lieutenant Dan, of TikTok and hurricane fame, has been arrested again in Tampa.
54-year-old Joseph Malinowsky, known as “Lt. Dan,” got internet famous from his TikTok posts, where he most recently attempted to ride out the recent Central Florida hurricanes with only a small boat. He even garnered some national media attention from The Weather Channel and CNN.
Lieutenant Dan was arrested by police officers on a misdemeanor charge for trespassing in a city park at Bayshore Linear Park and Dock, according to reports. Local law enforcement reportedly warned him numerous times before taking action.
He was also arrested on multiple charges including trespassing and failure to appear in court on previous charges, according to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arrest records.
Reportedly, Malinowski was taken to a Central Florida jail and his boat was impounded by local police. They said the vessel was unregistered.
During the recent hurricane, Mayor Jane Castor stated the Tampa Police Department saved Lieutenant Dan in Tampa, and rescued him by bringing him to a shelter. Local officials scrutinized the attention and risky decisions he was making on social media during Hurricane Milton. He also said he said he slept through Hurricane Helene.
Many people all over the country were following along, even pledging support for the Tampa Bay man who was defying evacuation orders. Joseph Malinowsky does have a history in Florida criminal courts, which is perhaps keeping him from capitalizing on the social media and TikTok attention.
