Man who vowed to ride out Florida hurricanes on his boat is arrested in Tampa

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.

The Associated Press

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.

Malinowsky rejected pleas from officials to seek shelter and instead remained in his boat during Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.

Malinowsky, whose nickname comes from a character in the movie ''Forrest Gump'' who rides out a hurricane in a boat, remained jailed Saturday, according to online jail records.

Court records do not list an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

about the writer

about the writer

The Associated Press

The Associated Press

More from Nation

See More

A Palestinian woman who has been held in an immigration jail for nearly a year after she attended a protest in New York City said she suffered a seizure after fainting and hitting her head last week, an episode she linked to ''filthy'' and ''inhumane'' conditions inside the privately run detention facility.