Man Who Vowed to Ride Out Florida Hurricanes on His Boat Is Arrested in Tampa

Tampa police try to persuade Joseph Malinowsky, nicknamed “Lieutenant Dan,” to leave his boat for his safety as Tampa prepares for the arrival of Hurricane Milton in Tampa, Fla., on Oct. 9, 2024. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

TAMPA, Fla.—The man who gained social media fame with TikTok posts as he was riding out two hurricanes in his boat has been arrested in Tampa, Florida.

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arrest records show Joseph Malinowsky, 54, known as “Lt. Dan” after his TikTok posts, was arrested Friday for trespassing and failure to appear in court on previous charges of operating an unregistered vehicle and having no valid drivers license.