A 29-year-old Uber driver has been arrested in connection to the deadly Palisades fire in January.
Jonathan Rinderknect of Florida was arrested Tuesday near his home on suspicion of destruction of property by means of a fire. He is charged with starting a fire on January 1 that took a week to reignite as the Palisades Fire.
At the time Rinderknecht was living in the Palisades and finishing his New Year’s Eve shift. Passengers who were interviewed said he was “agitated and angry.” After dropping them off at LAX he called a friend but didn’t connect. He walked up a trail and listened to a French rap music video that showed items being lit on fire.
At 12:12 am on January 1 sensors in the area showed a fire had started. Rinderknecht tried several times to call 911 unsuccessfully. He drove off only to return to film the fire trucks responding to the scene.
If convicted he faces a mandatory minimum five years and up to 20 years in federal prison.
