TikTok Sensation Lieutenant Dan Arrested for Refusing to Move "Public Health Hazard" Boat Despite Police Orders

Popular TikTok personality, known as Lieutenant Dan, has recently made headlines after being arrested for his refusal to move his boat following orders from the Tampa Police. The incident unfolded just before Hurricane Milton hit on October 9, capturing the attention of social media users worldwide.

Lieutenant Dan gained significant traction on platforms like TikTok for his unconventional decision to weather the storm on his 20-foot sailboat, a move that raised eyebrows and garnered widespread interest.

Amid his newfound fame, fellow content creator Adin Ross extended an offer to Lieutenant Dan and his companion 'Tampa Terrance' to appear on his stream. During the broadcast, Ross proposed a generous deal, offering Dan a new boat valued at up to $100k along with a streaming contract on Kick.

However, the situation took a turn when, on October 14, Ross revoked Dan's Kick contract. In response, Lieutenant Dan declined the offer for a new boat. In a subsequent video shared on his TikTok account a few days later, Dan disclosed that he had put his current boat up for auction after being instructed by Tampa police to vacate the area.

Recounting the events, Dan expressed, "I got woken up by the Tampa police about being in the park and not being registered. I’m not getting that GoFundMe money. I’m putting up this boat, my boat that’s been through two major hurricanes, I’m putting this up for auction."

He continued, "I’m going to run the auction for a week. Send me a message [with your offer]. Highest bidder will get the boat, that way I can walk away with cash in my pocket and get out of Tampa. I don’t need the aggravation. I can’t be in the park. I’m trespassed from every public park in Tampa."

Subsequently, on October 18, Lieutenant Dan found himself in custody following his arrest by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. The arrest records revealed two outstanding warrants against him for failure to appear in court, one related to operating an unregistered vehicle and the other for lacking a driver’s license.

Additionally, a third charge was attributed to a "generic ordinance," with reports from TMZ suggesting it was linked to trespassing in Tampa Bay park after being directed to depart by authorities.

@jaysea331 #happyathome #fyp ##lieutenantdan #thankful #tampa #fypシ ♬ original sound - Lieutenant Dan

According to Tampa officers, Lieutenant Dan was confronted about the absence of a marine sanitation device on his boat and the lack of evidence of proper waste disposal. These conditions were deemed to pose a "public health hazard," leading to the directive for Dan to relocate his vessel from Bayshore Linear Park.

While Lieutenant Dan's case has garnered significant attention, he is not the sole TikTok personality who rose to fame during Hurricane Milton. Several Kick streamers also streamed live during the storm in a bid to win $70k from Adin Ross, prompting Ross to advise them to seek shelter amidst the adverse weather conditions.