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Viral Florida Man Known as 'Lietenant Dan' Arrested for Trespassing in Tampa Bay

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Viral Florida Man Known as 'Lietenant Dan' Arrested for Trespassing in Tampa Bay


Joseph Malinowski, the 54-year-old Florida man who made headlines ahead of Hurricane Milton by claiming he would ride out the massive storm on a boat harbored in Tampa Bay — despite evacuation orders — was arrested on Friday, adding to his already substantial rap sheet.

Malinowski was charged with “two outstanding warrants for failing to appear in court, and one charge of trespassing in a city park after warning,” 10 Tampa Bay reporter Aaron Parseghian posted on X (formerly Twitter) Friday afternoon. According to Parseghian, Tampa Bay Police also said that Malinowski “did not have a marine sanitation device aboard his unregistered boat, and did not have a record of proper waste disposal.” He’d failed to leave the dock a day after he had been instructed to relocate, at which point he was taken into custody.

Refusing to leave the dock is what made Malinowski famous as two major hurricanes bore down on Florida in late September and early October. Before Helene, Malinowski drew attention thanks to video interviews with Tampa TikTok creator Terrence Concannon in which he prepared to ride out the storm on his small sailboat. Then, as Milton veered directly toward the city, Malinowski went viral in videos where he explained to locals, newscasters, and law enforcement that he wasn’t going anywhere and would refuse any offer of shelter. Predictions of a deadly storm surge had triggered mandatory evacuations in the region, with Tampa Mayor Jane Castor warning, “If you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you’re going to die.”

Malinowski’s defiance had some observers disparaging him as a lunatic, while others celebrated him as an underdog hero and survivor they affectionately called “Lieutenant Dan,” after the double-amputee character in Forrest Gump. (Malinowski’s left leg was amputated after a car accident when he was 16, and he uses crutches; Concannon popularized the nickname.) The outpouring of support culminated in a GoFundMe campaign organized by Concannon, supposedly intended to finance a new boat for Malinowski so he could follow his “seafaring dreams.” The fundraiser ended with nearly $45,000 in donations.

Ultimately, Malinowski chose not to weather the torrential winds and rains of another tropical cyclone. After posting updates from his boat on his own TikTok account, he relented and allowed police to take him to a shelter. Mayor Castor on Oct. 9 said the authorities had saved his life, adding: “If we can get Lieutenant Dan to go to a shelter, we can get anybody to do that.”

While Malinowski and his boat separately survived Milton’s aftermath, his lengthy criminal record came up for discussion. In 2023, he had been charged for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office: according to their report, he had argued with a woman sitting on a bench, then set it on fire using gasoline and splashed some of it on her. Other past charges included an attempted breaking and entering, battery against a police officer, and drug possession, as well as “failure to transfer ownership of a vessel within 30 days.” It’s unclear whether he is the legal owner of his now famous boat.

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Malinowski had briefly promoted a new social media account on the streaming website Kick, with streamer Adin Ross purportedly enticing him to join the site with the promise of a $100,000 deal. But Malinowski dropped the N-word during his first stream, and Ross instead said he would offer the Kick deal to Concannon, who he said would livestream around the city of Tampa. Malinowski’s use of the slur came as he filmed several rants alleging that Concannon was withholding the money raised in his name with the GoFundMe campaign. The feud seems to have ended any collaboration between the pair.

All in all, an eventful month for Malinowski — and the latest setbacks seem unlikely to dampen his internet fame. Whatever he gets up to after this latest stint in jail, we’re sure to hear about it from the man himself.

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Man convicted of 1991 fatal shooting of police officer is set to be executed in Florida

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Man convicted of 1991 fatal shooting of police officer is set to be executed in Florida


STARKE, Fla. (AP) — A man convicted of fatally shooting a police officer with his own service weapon during a traffic stop is set to be executed Tuesday evening in Florida.

Billy Leon Kearse, 53, is scheduled to receive a three-drug injection starting at 6 p.m. at Florida State Prison near Starke. Kearse was initially sentenced to death in 1991 after being convicted of first-degree murder and robbery with a firearm.

The Florida Supreme Court found that the trial court failed to give jurors certain information about aggravating circumstances and ordered a new sentencing. Kearse was resentenced to death in 1997.

This is Florida’s third execution scheduled for 2026, following a record 19 executions last year. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis oversaw more executions in a single year in 2025 than any other Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. The highest number before then was eight executions in both 1984 and 2014, under former governors Bob Graham and Rick Scott, respectively.

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According to court records, Fort Pierce Police Officer Danny Parrish pulled over Kearse for driving the wrong way on a one-way street in January 1991. When Kearse couldn’t produce a valid driver’s license, Parrish ordered Kearse out of his vehicle and attempted to handcuff him.

A struggle ensued, and Kearse grabbed Parrish’s firearm, prosecutors said. Kearse fired 14 times, striking the officer nine times in the body and four times in his body armor. A nearby taxi driver heard the shots and used Parrish’s radio to call for help.

Parrish was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he died from the gunshot wounds, officials said. Meanwhile, police used license plate information that Parrish had called in before approaching Kearse to identify the attacker’s vehicle and home address, where Kearse was arrested.

Last week, the Florida Supreme Court denied appeals filed by Kearse. His attorneys had argued that he was unconstitutionally deprived of a fair penalty phase and that his intellectual disability makes his execution unconstitutional.

Final appeals were pending Tuesday before the U.S. Supreme Court.

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A total of 47 people were executed in the U.S. in 2025. Florida led the way with a flurry of death warrants signed by DeSantis, far outpacing Alabama, South Carolina and Texas which each held five executions.

Besides the two Florida executions this year, Texas and Oklahoma have each executed one person so far.

Two more Florida executions have already been scheduled for this month. Michael Lee King, 54, is scheduled to die on March 17, and the execution of James Aren Duckett, 68, is set for March 31.

All Florida executions are carried out via lethal injection using a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the Department of Corrections.

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Florida High School Boys Basketball 2026 Playoff Brackets, Schedule (FHSAA) – March 2, 2026

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Florida High School Boys Basketball 2026 Playoff Brackets, Schedule (FHSAA) – March 2, 2026


GRAY REID

Gray Reid has spent most of his career in basketball and sports media. He began as a student manager for the Nevada men’s basketball team, then went on to coach overseas in China and later joined the LC State men’s basketball program as a graduate assistant. After coaching, Gray joined SBLive Sports as a videographer and video editor, eventually moving into his current role as Regional Marketing Director.



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South Florida reacts: Mixed emotions after U.S. and Israeli strikes kill Iran’s Supreme Leader

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South Florida reacts: Mixed emotions after U.S. and Israeli strikes kill Iran’s Supreme Leader


As tensions escalate overseas, locals in South Florida express a complex mix of concern, hope, and fear—especially for loved ones in Israel and Iran. Community leaders and families share their perspectives on uncertainty, security, and what the future holds.



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