Joe Malinowski, known as “Lt. Dan” for his determination to ride out Hurricane Milton in a sailboat, has been arrested in Florida. He was charged with failing to appear in court for previous cases and trespassing in a city park. Malinowski, whose occupation is listed as a “Tik Tok star,” was arrested for not having proper sewage disposal equipment on his unregistered vessel, creating a public health hazard. Despite being warned to leave the park, he was arrested the next morning.
Malinowski, who got his nickname from the movie character “Forrest Gump,” defied evacuation orders and stayed on his sailboat during Hurricane Milton, which devastated the region and caused multiple casualties. Officials initially rescued Malinowski and took him to a shelter, but he returned to his boat hours later unharmed. He stated that the storm wasn’t too bad and that Tampa Bay was spared catastrophic storm surge.
Malinowski’s previous charges included operating an unregistered vehicle and not having a valid driver’s license. There is no attorney listed in court records who could speak on his behalf. Despite his internet fame and the attention he received for his decision to ride out the hurricane, Malinowski now faces legal troubles for his actions.
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