The viral sailor who braved Hurricane Milton on his tiny boat in Tampa, Florida, reportedly has a checkered past … police allege he once tried to set a woman on fire.
In relation to the alleged incident Joseph Malinowski – better known as “Lieutenant Dan” on TikTok, took place in February 2023, according to New York Postwhich cites Palm Beach County Sheriff’s records.
The Post says police allege Malinowski got into an argument with a woman named Sarah Perry while he smoked a cigarette about 20 feet away from her near West Palm Beach. He was with his brother and a friend.
During the argument, as the police say, Malinowski started pouring gasoline on the bench between him and this woman, who approached him with a cigarette in her hand.
Malinowski “walked on crutches, picked up a red gasoline can and doused Perry with gasoline,” police allege in the report.
Deputy Sheriff Ryan Herzog adds that Perry feared for his life because the alleged gasoline could have ignited because of the cigarette he was lighting.
The New York Post includes photos from the alleged incident … showing red gas cans that police say Malinowski used and a dark burn mark on a concrete bench.
Deputy Sheriff Herzog says he arrived to find Lt. Dan wet and smelling of gasoline … claiming he eventually determined he “intentionally threw gasoline” on Perry.
Police arrested Malinowski and reportedly charged him with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Malinowski had amassed a viral following on TikTok in the past few days pushing Milton out on his little boat … saying he knew God would protect him, referring to the biblical story of Noah’s Ark.
