Internet sensation “Lieutenant Dan” is accused of trying to set a woman on fire

PALM BEACH, Fla. (TNND) — A 54-year-old man who apparently lives in the Tampa area caused a stir online after he refused to abandon his sailboat as Hurricane Milton approached Florida.

Joseph Malinowski, who is missing his left foot and part of his leg, has gained a loyal following online.

The footage shows him on crutches and talking to officers on a boat. He tells them that despite warnings to evacuate in anticipation of deadly storm surges, he had no plans to leave the boat.

Now that the storm has passed, the sun is shining light on Malinowski’s extensive criminal history. Arrest records show he was recently charged with attempting to set a woman on fire.

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office documents show that in February 2023, Malinowski allegedly argued with a woman who was sitting on an outdoor bench.

According to the files, Malinowski poured gasoline on the bench and set it on fire before spraying the woman with gasoline. He was later charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, the documents said.

According to the documents, the woman told authorities that she was smoking a cigarette at the time and was “fearing for her life because the gasoline could ignite.”

The woman, police said, called 911 and removed his crutches from him to prevent him from “using the crutches as weapons and fleeing.”

Malinowski told authorities the woman “threw several cans at him” before he sprayed her, but police said “no cans were seen in the area.” He also said he spilled the petrol and set it on fire “to burn the residue from the bank” and denied splashing the woman.

Arrest files from last summer show Malinowski was accused of failing to transfer ownership of a vessel within 30 days. This means he may not have owned the sailboat he was guarding.

Another arrest report shows he was charged with failure to appear in court for an arraignment in connection with the case. It is also unclear where he lives, as several documents list his address as “at large.”

Malinowski was also arrested for assault on a police officer, drug possession and attempted burglary.

However, the public seems to love him.

Earlier this week, Malinowski made international headlines after at least a few appearances on television. He is praised on social media for his alleged courage.

“God sent me here. He sent me here. He told me to come here. My life – it’s nothing compared to what I’ve been through. So that doesn’t scare me. This isn’t even a minor.” “Inconvenience,” Malinowski reportedly said after officials warned him of the dangers.

On Friday morning, it appeared Malinowski’s new fans had helped raise more than $46,000 on GoFundMe to support his “seafaring dreams.”

“He is the kindest soul who never asks for anything but is always willing to lend a hand,” organizers wrote on GoFundMe. “His current vessel has seen better days and we want to surprise him with a new boat to continue his seafaring adventures.”

Hurricane Milton cleanup was underway Friday as residents returned home after the storm ripped through Florida, spawning tornadoes, knocking out power to millions, damaging homes and rescuing hundreds of people.

At least 16 people died in the storm and there was significant damage in certain areas, but Milton was not as bad as feared. However, flooding due to heavy rainfall still caused problems in Milton.

Governor Ron DeSantis urged people not to let their guard down and to be aware of the dangers.

The storm hit Florida midweek while some communities were still grappling with damage from devastating Hurricane Helene two weeks ago.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.