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Tampa’s one-legged viral sensation ‘Lieutenant Dan’ tossed in jail after cop warnings his boat was ‘health hazard’

Now he’s in a boatload of trouble.

The one-legged, sailboat-dwelling Florida man known as “Lieutenant Dan” — who went viral for refusing to abandon his sailboat during Hurricane Milton — was tossed in jail Friday because the vessel was unregistered, according to Tampa Police.

Joseph Malinowski, 54, of Tampa Bay, was hauled away by police because he didn’t have a device to discharge sewage from his 20-foot-sailboat, creating a public health hazard, cops told WTSP.com.


Joseph Malinowski, 54, the one-legged, sailboat-dwelling Florida man known as “Lieutenant Dan,” who went viral for refusing to abandon his ship during Hurricane Milton, was jailed Friday because the vessel was unregistered. Getty Images

The seafaring scalawag, who fans last week called a “cult hero,” refused to leave the park-side dock after “numerous warnings,” police said.

He also had two outstanding warrants for failure to appear in court and trespassing in a city park, cops added.

Malinowski became an overnight sensation when TikTok videos emerged of him claiming he would ride out the raging Category 5 storm on his floating home last week.

His ship and single leg earned him the nickname “Lieutenant Dan,” a reference to the lovable but troubled Vietnam vet played by Gary Sinise in the Oscar-winning 1994 flick Forrest Gump, who survived a hurricane on a boat.

During the storm, he was “rescued” and later taken to a shelter on Oct. 9, according to Tampa Mayor Jane Castor.


Tampa police try to persuade a local resident who is living on his boat known as Jay and nicknamed Lieutenant Dan to leave for his safety as Tampa prepares for the arrival of Hurricane Milton on October 09, 2024 in Tampa, Florida
Cops told WTSP.com that Malinowski was hauled away by police because he didn’t have a device to discharge sewage from his 20-foot-sailboat, creating a public health hazard. Getty Images

His sailboat has since been impounded, police said.

In April 2022, Malinowski — who has a lengthy rap sheet  — was released after a one-year prison sentence for punching a police officer in the nose, WUFT reported.

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