Tampa's one-legged viral sensation “Lieutenant Dan” jailed for boating

Now he's in a lot 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 jailed Friday for the ship was not registered.

Joseph Malinowski, 54, of Tampa Bay, was hauled away by police because he did not have a device to drain wastewater from his 20-foot sailboat, posing a public health hazard, cops told WTSP.com.

The seafaring Scalawag, whom fans dubbed a “cult hero” last week, refused to leave the park walkway after “numerous warnings,” police said.

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

Malinowski became an overnight sensation when TikTok videos surfaced in which he claimed 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 veteran played by Gary Sinise in the Oscar-winning 1994 film Forrest Gump, who survived a hurricane on a boat survived.

He was “rescued” during the storm and later moved to an emergency shelter on Oct. 9, according to Tampa Mayor Jane Castor.

His sailboat has now been confiscated, the police said.

In April 2022, Malinowski – who has a long criminal record – was released after serving a year in prison for punching a police officer in the nose, WUFT reported.