Joseph Malinowski, popularly known as “Lieutenant Dan,” gained viral attention for refusing to evacuate his sailboat during Hurricane Milton in Tampa.
His defiance against the storm led to widespread media coverage, but his fame turned negative when controversies surfaced.
Highlights
- Joseph Malinowski gained instant internet popularity as “Lieutenant Dan” for refusing to leave his sailboat during Hurricane Milton.
- Malinowski allegedly has over 20 criminal mugshots for different charges across a period of a decade.
- Joseph was not arrested but was rescued from his sailboat; he reportedly returned to the seashore of Tampa.
55 year old, Malinowski has lived on a 20-foot sailboat for years after facing homelessness.
His story has gained attention, especially on platforms like Tiktok and Twitter.
Social media influencer Terrence Concannon helped raise awareness about Joseph’s situation.
Currently, netizens are engaged in learning about Joseph Malinowski’s background and have found some of his past misconducts and mugshots.
Joseph Malinowski Allegedly Has Several Criminal Records
As Joseph’s video surfaced across social media, some of his past details came to light. Netizens have found that his background includes legal issues and arrests.
According to the Raleigh/Wake City County Bureau of Identification (CCBI) arrest records, Malinowski has records for several offenses.
Joseph Malinowski’s first arrest was on June 22, 2013, for resisting a public officer. Furthermore, in November 2014, he was charged for possessing Marijuana.
Joseph Malinowski, better known online as Lieutenant Dan, has an incredibly long history of arrests. Assault with a deadly weapon, paraphernalia, etc.— dude has been around the block. https://t.co/LRD9B5UhWX pic.twitter.com/VHrUpCoAuW
— Brad (@BradHeat) October 10, 2024
Similarly, in 2015, he was arrested six times for misdemeanor probation violations, second-degree trespass, and possession of marijuana.
In 2016, Joseph Malinowski was caught up in criminal cases nine times. His crimes include assault, public disturbance, possession of substances, and felony charges for misconduct.
It is reported that while Malinowski was in prison in 2016, he possessed controlled substances on jail premises, which extended his sentence.
After his release from prison, he was again arrested for felony possession and misdemeanor probation violation in 2018 and 2019.
Lieutenant Dan’s recent violation was marked in 2023 when he faced accusations of attempting to harm a woman by throwing gasoline on her while she was smoking.
Joseph Malinowski Is Not In Jail At The Moment; He Has Become A Niche Internet Personality
After Joseph Malinowski’s video of living in a sailboat during an extreme hurricane went viral on social media, the county office rescued him.
However, it is reported that he returned to the seashore again; however, he is not in jail.
For everyone worried about “Lieutenant Dan” – I just talked to him. His real name is Joseph Malinowski.
He says he is going to stay on his sailboat in the Tampa Bay. pic.twitter.com/UJWE7EAazt— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) October 9, 2024
Malinowski seemed undisturbed about his history when people mentioned him over 20 mugshots.
In one video of a TikToker, Joseph is seen saying,
I went to prison. I did jail time, but I have to tell you point blank… I am innocent of all the charges.
Meanwhile, netizens have debated opinions regarding the story and criminal records of Joseph Malinowski.
On X, one of the users writes,
Lieutenant Dan’s real name is Joseph Malinowski and is a repeated woman abuser that has been in jail more times than I can count since 2013. Stop supporting this man’s stupidity because you’re also supporting a woman abuser. His crimes go from North Carolina to Florida.
Similarly, another user called people to focus on the facts and recheck the details writing,
There have been widespread rumors and incorrect posts on social media accusing Malinowski of being a pedophile or sex offender. However, these claims are false and relate to a different individual with a similar name.
Additional Information
- It is reported that TikTok celebrity Adin Ross has offered Joseph Malinowski a new $100K boat and a kit deal.
- Ashley Malinowski, daughter of Joseph Malinowski, has publicly expressed concerns over her father’s well-being after the sudden popularity.
- Joseph Malinowski is possibly of Jewish/Polish origin, as his surname, Malinowski, is a common Ashkenazi surname.
