The Florida man accused of starting the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles last January had previous encounters with law enforcement before his arrest, according to newly released video and records.
Prosecutors allege that Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, maliciously started the Latchman Fire after midnight on Jan. 1, which burned underground until Santa Ana winds reignited it on Jan. 7, becoming the larger and more destructive Palisades Fire.
Before his arrest on federal arson charges earlier this month, Rinderknecht had a notable run-in with police in Florida.
Palm Bay Police released footage from an August 2, 2025 traffic stop in Brevard County, Florida, where Rinderknecht was stopped for driving 71 mph in a 45 mph zone while delivering food.
The video shows Rinderknecht trying to appeal to officers by explaining how customers wait for deliveries. “All these people are harassing me because of their orders,” he says.
He also complained about the money he earns delivering and driving for ride-sharing companies. “I just moved here. The way they pay you is absolutely ridiculous,” he says. “I mean last week I worked 60 hours and I didn’t even get $900.”
Authorities say Rinderknecht was driving for Uber on the evening the Luckman fire allegedly started.
During the traffic stop, an officer noticed several unmarked pill bottles inside the vehicle.
The video shows the officer told Rinderknecht that driving with unmarked prescription bottles was illegal and asked him to get out of the car. The officer examined the pills, eventually determined they were not illegal drugs and returned them to Renderknecht.
Rinderknecht received a $284 citation for speeding.
Two months later, federal authorities arrested him in Melbourne, Florida, for starting the Palisades Fire, which destroyed thousands of buildings in Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and Brentwood, and killed 12 people.
If convicted of destruction of property by fire, Renderknecht faces a maximum sentence of 45 years in federal prison.