Anthony Yates
Police arrested an Uber Driver from Florida earlier this week, alleging he started the deadly Palisades fire in January. A court heard yesterday that the suspect had also previously threatened two of his family members.
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What happened: A report by WESH reveals several alarming details shared before a judge in Orlando on October 9. During the hearing, the ATF Special Agent in Charge detailed two separate incidents where officers visited the home of 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht in September.
- Police visited the suspect’s home on September 19. Rinderknecht was reportedly living with his sister and brother-in-law after moving to Florida. Per WESH, the court heard that he threatened to burn their house down.
- Authorities revisited the home on September 25 after his father told police he was concerned about his son owning a gun. The outlet explains that his father was visiting from France at the time.
- Rinderknecht allegedly claimed he might shoot his brother-in-law in self-defense. He also reportedly lied about keeping a gun inside a locked safe. Officers found it hidden inside a stuffed toy in the garage instead.
The Judge Ruled That The Suspect Will Remain In Custody
A flight risk: A report by AP News reveals more details about the court hearing, where the judge reportedly decided to keep Rinderknecht jailed.
- Prosecutors allegedly said the suspect had traits of an arsonist and that his family worried about his mental state. They also claimed he was a flight risk, although his defender said, “He is not a risk to anyone.”
- The ATF special agent reportedly said that Rinderknecht’s sister and brother-in-law have since moved out. They allegedly started eviction proceedings for fear of their safety.
Holes in his story: Acting US attorney for the Central District of California, Bill Essayli, announced that police arrested the suspect on October 8. Investigators believe he started the fire just after midnight on New Year’s Day. High winds fanned the flames, and the fire rapidly spread on January 7.
- Prosecutors’ claim they noticed inconsistencies in Rinderknecht’s story. He reportedly dialed 911 about the fire on New Year’s Day, but claimed he was away from it at the bottom of a trail. GPS put him just 30 feet from the fire.
- Officers also spoke to the suspect on January 24, where he shared details with law enforcement that were not public knowledge.
- Per AP News, Rinderknecht has a hearing on October 17.
