“Lieutenant Dan” arrested for refusing to leave his boat after encountering Hurricane Milton in Tampa
Joseph MalinowskiPopularly known as on social networks “Lieutenant Dan.”was arrested this morning while on his boat at Bayshore Linear Park Tampa Bay, Florida,
His arrest came after he failed to appear in court on two previous occasions and faced a misdemeanor charge of trespassing in a city park. Before his arrest, police officers had already warned him about the implications of being on an unregistered sailboat, which also lacked a proper sewage discharge device, posing a threat to public health. “His arrest is in response to two outstanding arrest warrants and remaining on the sailboat after receiving a prior warning.”reported Univision.
Malinowski gained notoriety during the passage of Hurricane Milton after he refused to evacuate the 6-metre (20-foot) sailboat he was in, according to Tampa Police, garnering the attention of users on platforms such as TikTok. . Univision It was reported that, despite warnings, the 54-year-old man was found in the park again in the morning, culminating in his arrest.
The arrest operation was carried out at 7:30 a.m., at which time authorities also seized Malinowski’s boat. A day earlier, he had spoken to officials who had insisted that he leave public places to avoid restrictions.
After his arrest, Joseph Malinowski He was transferred to Orient Road Jail, where he is expected to face trial on the charges against him.
A representative from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office told Univision about the importance of removing unregistered vessels and controlling risky behavior in public areas.
Since his arrest, social media platforms have shown renewed interest in his case, with many users expressing both support and criticism of his decisions.
Known as ‘Lieutenant Dan’ on social media, he became famous last week by defying evacuation orders from authorities as powerful Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida on October 9.
In his viral video, Malinowski shared Your decision to live on your houseboatDespite the threat of the storm, which attracted the attention of thousands of users.
The situation escalated when, on October 9, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said at a press conference that the police department rescued Malinowski, who had changed his mind and was in a shelter. “If we could convince Lieutenant Dan to go ashore, we can convince anyone to do the same,” Castor said, emphasizing the importance of safety in an emergency. However, it was later revealed that Malinowski had not abandoned his ship and braved the storm within the ship and came out safely.
Malinowski, who is missing a leg, stayed on his boat in Tampa Harbor and survived the storm, although high winds caused the boat to hit a wall several times.
his surname comes from The iconic character Lieutenant Dan from the film ‘Forrest Gump’Played by Gary Sinise, a war veteran who also braves a storm on his boat.