HomeLatest NewsPalisades Fire suspect held without bond

Palisades Fire suspect held without bond

Published on

Featured

Military Inquiry Faults U.S. For Iranian School Massacre

A military inquiry has faulted the United States for the destruction and massacre of...

Police: Homeowner Warned Intruder He Was Armed Before Fatal Shooting During Break-In Attempt

Key Takeaways A homeowner in Somerset Township shot and killed an alleged intruder early Sunday...

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

The suspect charged with allegedly causing the deadly Palisades Fire in southern California will remain in the custody of U.S. Marshals without bail ahead of trial.

United States Magistrate Judge Nathan W. Hill cited 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht’s mental health, unsteady income and his complicated relationship with his family as his reasoning for the decision on Thursday in Orlando, Florida.

Three of Rinderknecht’s siblings – two sisters and one brother – sat in the second row during the hearing. One of his sisters started crying after the judge made his ruling. 

Federal officials said during a news conference on Wednesday that Rinderknecht was arrested in Melbourne the day prior. Rinderknecht is accused of starting the Lachman Fire on New Year’s Day, which kept burning underground and reemerged as the Palisades Fire due to strong winds on Jan. 7. 

WHO IS JONATHAN RINDERKNECHT, PALISADES FIRE SUSPECT ACCUSED OF SPARKING DEADLY BLAZE?

Rinderknecht was an Uber driver, and he was described by two passengers as “agitated and angry” the night he was accused of starting the fire, a criminal complaint obtained by Fox News said.

Officials said during the news conference that he was a resident of Palisades and was familiar with the neighborhood. He allegedly used an “open flame” to ignite the blaze after just having dropped off passengers. 

ARREST MADE IN CONNECTION TO DEADLY PACIFIC PALISADES FIRE, SOURCES SAY

Two people in dark clothing walk together past reporters and photographers outside a courthouse.

An Uber spokesperson told Fox News Digital the company has “partnered closely with the ATF to determine the driver’s whereabouts on and around Jan. 1” and that its “GPS data placed him near the location of the start of the Lachman fire on Jan. 1.”

Beachside homes destroyed in the Palisades Fire are seen along the Pacific Coast Highway

Rinderknecht’s access to the Uber platform was revoked once Uber learned of his suspected involvement in the fire, the company said. 

All Uber drivers “must pass a state-mandated background check in order to drive with Uber and are rescreened annually,” the Uber spokesperson said.

Fox News’ Andre Tinoco, Bill Melugin and Matt Finn contributed to this report. 

Read the full article here

Latest articles

New York Lawmakers Introduce Bill Requiring Graphic Warning Images in Gun Stores

Key Takeaways New York lawmakers proposed legislation requiring graphic warning posters in gun stores and...

Why “Reasonable Belief” Can Decide a Self-Defense Case

Key Takeaways Fear alone can’t justify deadly force in self-defense; belief in imminent danger must...

FBI Warns California of “Iranian Drone Threat”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has warned the authorities in California that Iran...

Hegseth Warns “Most Intense Day” Of Operation Epic Fury Imminent

This article was originally published by Tyler Durden at ZeroHedge under the title: Hegseth...

More like this

Will Aliens Trigger the Next Financial Crisis?

As Mark Thornton has detailed in his brilliant book, The Skyscraper Curse, Austrian School economists’...

Military Inquiry Faults U.S. For Iranian School Massacre

A military inquiry has faulted the United States for the destruction and massacre of...

Police: Homeowner Warned Intruder He Was Armed Before Fatal Shooting During Break-In Attempt

Key Takeaways A homeowner in Somerset Township shot and killed an alleged intruder early Sunday...