"Jonathan Rinderknecht was arrested near his Florida residence on federal charges of destruction of property by means of fire, acting US attorney for the central district of California, Bill Essayli, announced on Wednesday. No motive was presented. The investigators allege Rinderknecht maliciously started what became the Lachman fire shortly after midnight on New Year's Day in Pacific Palisades. That fire smoldered underground for nearly a week before resurfacing on 7 January amid heavy winds, spreading rapidly to become the Palisades fire, investigators say."
"The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) said the wide-ranging investigation raked in more than 13,000 items of evidence, and included hundreds of interviews some overseas and more than 200 leads. Investigators also documented over 300 ATF reports, including a 200 page report detailing the origin and cause of the investigation. Jonathan Rinderknecht, a suspect in the Palisades fire. Photograph: AP"
Jonathan Rinderknecht was arrested near his Florida residence and charged federally with destruction of property by means of fire for allegedly igniting the Lachman fire shortly after midnight on New Year's Day. The initial blaze smoldered underground for nearly a week before resurfacing on 7 January amid heavy winds and spreading rapidly into the Palisades fire that killed 12 people and destroyed more than 6,800 structures. The ATF-led investigation collected over 13,000 items of evidence, conducted hundreds of interviews including some overseas, followed more than 200 leads, and produced over 300 reports. Rinderknecht had worked as an Uber driver that night; passengers said he appeared agitated, and investigators say he filmed on a hilltop while listening to a rap music video featuring objects being set alight. Law enforcement identified and interviewed him on 24 January; during questioning he allegedly lied.
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