'Lieutenant Dan,' The Man Who Rode Out Hurricane Milton In A Boat, Arrested

Joseph Malinowski , a Florida man known as 'Lieutenant Dan,' was arrested on Friday (October 18) for failing to leave a park-side dock with his unregistered vessel, which was creating a public health hazard. The 54-year-old, who gained viral fame for refusing to leave his boat during Hurricane Milton, was taken into custody at Bayshore Linear Park and Dock after ignoring several warnings from the Tampa Police Department.

Malinowski's boat did not have an accessible device to discharge sewage , and there was no record of proper waste disposal. The vessel was impounded following his arrest.

Malinowski, who is missing part of his left leg and uses crutches to get around, earned his nickname 'Lieutenant Dan' due to his resemblance to the character from the movie Forrest Gump . He became a social media sensation when he decided to ride out Hurricane Milton in his 20-foot-long boat , despite pleas from local residents and law enforcement officials to seek shelter.

Malinowski is facing two outstanding warrants for failure to appear and one misdemeanor charge of trespassing in a city park after warning. His occupation was listed as 'TikTok Star' while his arrest inquiry lists him as unemployed. Despite his arrest and previous criminal record, Malinowski has stated that he plans to ride out all future Tampa hurricanes in his boat.