The internet-famous sailor who weathered Hurricane Milton on his miniature boat in Tampa, Florida has found himself in jail … seemingly due to a predicament regarding the regulation of his watercraft.
Joseph Malinowski — who goes by “Lieutenant Dan” on TikTok — was taken into custody early Friday morning in Tampa and transported to jail … according to the local authorities.
Authorities report that Dan is facing two pending warrants for not appearing in court and a misdemeanor related to trespassing in a park after having received a warning.
Tampa Police disclosed that officers had a conversation with Lieutenant Dan at Bayshore Linear Park and Dock on Thursday … during which Dan mentioned he lacked an available marine sanitation device on his boat and could not produce proof of responsible waste disposal.
Officers stated that the circumstances alleged on Dan’s boat posed a public health risk, and he was ordered to vacate the location at Bayshore Linear Park … however, reports indicate that he persisted in staying there Friday morning despite multiple warnings … leading to his arrest and subsequent transfer to jail.
Lieutenant Dan’s representative, Brandon Gilchrist, informed TMZ … that his team is actively working on securing his release.
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Interestingly, Lieutenant Dan’s unexpected notoriety is actually mentioned in his booking records … his job title is described as “TikTok sensation.”
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