TikTok Personality Arrested After Defying Hurricane Evacuation

Joseph Malinowski, a 54-year-old Tampa resident who gained popularity on TikTok for his controversial decision to remain on his houseboat during Hurricane Milton, was arrested on Friday morning, October 18. Malinowski had warrants for failure to appear in court and a charge of trespassing in a city park after warning, according to official records.

The Tampa Police Department apprehended Malinowski around 7:30 a.m. at Bayshore Linear Park and Dock. Law enforcement officials, in a statement, indicated they had engaged with Malinowski the previous day. He reportedly admitted to lacking appropriate equipment to manage sewage from his unregistered vessel, which posed a public health risk.

Despite repeated directives to vacate the park, Malinowski was present on Friday morning, leading to his arrest. He is currently detained at Orient Road Jail, and his boat has been confiscated by the authorities.

Malinowski, who refers to himself as a “TIK TOK STAR,” is popularly known as “Lieutenant Dan,” echoing the character from the movie “Forrest Gump” who resiliently weathered a hurricane at sea. His video declaration, made just prior to Hurricane Milton’s anticipated landfall, quickly garnered attention on TikTok.

In a press conference held on October 9, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor remarked on the incident, stating, “The Tampa Police Department, this morning, just saved Lieutenant Dan. He has been rescued and is now in a shelter as well. If we can get Lieutenant Dan to go to a shelter, we can get anybody to do that.”

The events unfolded after Malinowski’s widely-viewed social media posts, which initially depicted his defiance of evacuation directives, resulted in increased scrutiny from local authorities and the public alike.