The viral sailor who braved Hurricane Milton on his small boat in Tampa, Florida, reportedly has a checkered past… with police claiming he once tried to set a woman on fire.
The alleged incident involving Joseph Malinowski – better known as ‘Lieutenant Dan’ on TikTok – took place in February 2023, according to the New York Postciting Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office records.
The Post says police allege Malinowski had an argument with a named woman Sara Perry as she smoked a cigarette about twenty feet away from him near West Palm Beach. She was with her brother and a friend.
During the argument, police say, Malinowski began pouring gasoline on the couch between himself and the woman who approached him with a cigarette in hand.
Malinowski “walked with the crutches, picked up the red gasoline container and splashed Perry with gasoline,” officers allege in the report.
Deputy sheriff Ryan Herzog Perry added that she feared for her life because the alleged gasoline could be ignited by her lit cigarette.
The New York Post has photos of the alleged incident … showing the red gas can that police say Malinowski used and the dark burn mark on the concrete bench.
Deputy Sheriff Herzog says he arrived to find Lt. Dan wet and smelling of gasoline… and claims he ultimately determined he had “intentionally thrown gasoline” on Perry.
Police arrested Malinowski and reportedly charged him with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
Malinowski gained a viral following on TikTok in the days before Driving out of Milton on his small boat… and said he knew God would protect him, referring to the Biblical story of Noah’s Ark.