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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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Ex-Florida juvenile probation officer accused of leaking court info to drug traffickers

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Ex-Florida juvenile probation officer accused of leaking court info to drug traffickers


A former Florida juvenile probation officer is facing more than 100 felony charges after investigators said she leaked confidential court and law enforcement information to people tied to a drug trafficking investigation.

Crystal Gaynell Ann Lawson was booked into the Orange County Jail on Thursday, according to Orange County Corrections records.

Investigators said Lawson improperly accessed the Comprehensive Case Information System, or CCIS, more than 100 times and shared information from active criminal cases with members of a drug trafficking organization.

FOX 35 Orlando reported Lawson was arrested on 113 felony counts of computer crimes for unauthorized access. Investigators said she allegedly accessed the database 106 times between January and May.

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Lawson is accused of using the database to search for active criminal cases tied to members of the organization. Authorities said some of the information that was leaked included arrest warrants and documents connected to an active investigation.

Lawson was hired by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice in February 2022. As part of that job, she was given access to the CCIS database. Authorities said she was fired later that year after an arrest, but her database access was not terminated.

See also: ‘Elf,’ ‘Couples Retreat’ actor jailed with no bond after Florida arrest

Investigators said the leaks resulted in lost evidence, unrecovered assets and at least one person fleeing to avoid arrest before later being taken into custody.

Lawson previously worked for the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, where she had access to the court information system as part of her job. Authorities said she was later fired, but her database access was not terminated.

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Orange County Corrections records list Lawson’s case status as “presentenced” and show multiple entries for “offense against computer users.”

The records list the arresting agency as the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and show bond amounts of $10,000 on several listed case sequences. The jail record also notes an “ICJIS Affidavit.”



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Weather Aware Day declared for Friday as heat and strong storms threaten Central Florida

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Weather Aware Day declared for Friday as heat and strong storms threaten Central Florida


ORLANDO, Fla. – Strong thunderstorms continue to push across Central Florida Thursday evening, with a few storms capable of producing gusty winds, frequent lightning, torrential rainfall and isolated damage before activity gradually winds down later tonight.

The strongest storms are expected through about 10 p.m., with most of the activity weakening and moving offshore by around 11 p.m. Storms are being fueled by sea breeze collisions and abundant moisture across the state. In addition to strong wind gusts, torrential downpours could lead to ponding of water on roads and minor flooding in low-lying and poor-drainage areas.

While storms remain the immediate concern this evening, another round of impactful weather is expected Friday.

The News 6 Weather Team has designated Friday as a Weather Aware Day due to the combination of dangerous heat and the threat for strong to severe thunderstorms.

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Before storms develop, temperatures will climb into the low to mid-90s Friday afternoon. Combined with high humidity, it will feel more like 102 to 107 degrees across much of Central Florida. Some locations could once again approach or exceed Heat Advisory criteria.

Scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop during the afternoon and evening hours. The atmosphere will be loaded with tropical moisture, allowing storms to produce frequent lightning, damaging wind gusts, and torrential rainfall.

The Storm Prediction Center has placed all of Central Florida under a Level 1 out of 5 risk for severe weather Friday. While widespread severe weather is not expected, a few storms could become strong enough to produce damaging winds.

In addition, the Weather Prediction Center has highlighted portions of Central Florida for a Level 1 out of 4 risk of excessive rainfall. Any storm will be capable of producing very heavy rain in a short amount of time, which could lead to localized flooding.

The unsettled pattern continues into the weekend. Storm coverage is expected to increase Saturday, and some locations could see multiple rounds of heavy rain. While a few stronger storms remain possible, the flooding threat may become a greater concern by Saturday afternoon and evening.

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Looking ahead to next week, rain chances are expected to gradually decrease, but the heat is not going anywhere. High temperatures will remain in the low to mid-90s, with heat index values frequently climbing above 100 degrees. Forecast guidance suggests a higher heat risk could develop once again across Central Florida as we head deeper into next week.

At the beaches, a moderate risk of rip currents continues. Make sure you swim near a lifeguard if you’re heading to the beach.

Copyright 2026 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.



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‘All over’: Florida mental health counselor finds 50 bats inside her office

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‘All over’: Florida mental health counselor finds 50 bats inside her office


SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA)— A Florida mental health counselor walked into a surprising number of bats inside her office last week.

“We had about 50 bats. In the toilet, in the sink. All over,” Shaltala Boss, a licensed mental health counselor, said.

Boss has since moved her office due to maternity season, when it is illegal to exclude or remove bats from April 16 to August 14, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Credit: Shantala Boss

“Any form of eviction during this time period will result in baby bats being trapped along with adult bats that may not have emerged. Trapped bats will attempt to escape and may end up in the living space of buildings,” FWC said.

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Video provided by Boss showed a bat lying on the ground.

“You definitely didn’t want to come to counseling that day,” Boss said.

Boss has since moved to another location and said it is bat-free.

“Most bats will avoid humans at all costs and use natural roosting structures for shelter during the day. However, bats sometimes find their way into our homes and structures, which can present a health hazard,” FWC said.

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