Joseph Malinowski, widely known as Lieutenant Dan, found himself under arrest in Tampa and was subsequently jailed after remaining on his boat through a severe storm.
Tampa Police verified to TMZ that they apprehended the popular TikTok personality, leaving his vessel anchored in the bay, due to various infractions.
Joseph Malinowski gained considerable attention on social media platforms when he chose not to evacuate his fishing boat, which serves as his home, despite warnings about the approaching Hurricane Milton.
Earlier this month, the formidable hurricane struck Sarasota County with wind speeds reaching 120 mph, prompting U.S. officials to urge residents to either evacuate or remain indoors for safety reasons.
Nevertheless, Malinowski opted for a different approach.
In an interview with a Sky News reporter, he stated, “Five years ago, God put on my heart Tampa Bay and get a boat and that is what I am doing.
“I am here for God.
“He told me to be here so I am here.”
When questioned about his fear, he responded, “I am in a boat, and there is water coming in, I am going to go up with the water and when the water goes out I am going to go down.
“As long as I keep the water out of the inside of my boat, I’ll be fine.”
Law enforcement informed TMZ that Malinowski faces charges stemming from two outstanding warrants.
One is for failing to appear in court, while the other is a misdemeanor charge for trespassing in a city park after being cautioned.
The Tampa Police Department reported that they encountered Lieutenant Dan at Bayshore Linear Park and Dock on Thursday, October 17. They informed him that his boat lacked an accessible marine sanitation device.
Authorities also indicated that they had warned him about not having records for proper waste disposal and instructed him to relocate his boat due to public health concerns.
However, when officers returned the following morning, they found him still there, leading to his arrest.
Brandon Gilchrist, serving as Lieutenant Dan’s representative, confirmed to the news outlet that efforts are underway to secure his release on bail.
The social media star gained recognition for his storm survival, remarking that he’d experienced ‘more eventful nights’ than during the hurricane.
He even mentioned it wasn’t as severe as his experience with Storm Helene.
He recounted, “I did the same thing I am doing right now. The wind came out of the west right here and pushed me to the east, so I was over the water, and I just watched it go up.
“I went to sleep at 12:30, I woke up at 5 o’clock in the morning.
“I’m worried about [my boat] getting scratched up, that’s it, that is the worst that is going to happen.”
Regarding Hurricane Milton, he described the experience as ‘uneventful. It was nice. It was mellow’.