Federal authorities arrested a 29-year-old Melbourne man on charges
Jonathan Rinderknecht, who worked as an Uber driver at the time and once lived in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, was charged with destruction of property by means of fire and was expected to appear before a federal magistrate for a first appearance in U.S. District Court in Orlando. The arrest follows one of the most destructive fires in U.S. history.
The wildfire started Jan. 7 and fed by strong winds, quickly grew to destroy several communities in the Pacific Palisades section of Los Angeles, including portions of Malibu. Residents were trapped by flames and millions in property was destroyed.
“The complaint alleges that a single person’s recklessness caused one of the worst fires Los Angeles has ever seen, resul