ORLANDO, Fla. – A judge has denied bond for a 29-year-old man charged with sparking California’s deadly Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in its history.
Authorities arrested Jonathan Rinderknecht for lighting a fire on New Year’s Day that burned down much of the Pacific Palisades a week later. Rinderknecht was arrested Tuesday at his sister’s home in Melbourne where he had been living for five months.
[WATCH: Federal judge in Orlando keeps Los Angeles wildfire suspect in jail]
During Thursday’s hearing, prosecutors discussed encounters Jonathan Rinderknecht had with law enforcement in the weeks leading up to his arrest.
On Sept. 17, police were called to Rinderknecht’s sister’s home for an argument between Rinderknecht and his brother-in-law.
According to investigators, the brother-in-law told officers that Rinderknecht said he would burn down the house during the argument.
On Sept. 25, police were called to the same home for an armed disturbance.
During the response, Rinderknecht’s father told officers that his son told him he purchased a handgun and would use it in self-defense against the brother-in-law if needed.
Prosecutors said no arrests were made after either call, and officers suggested the family pursue an eviction for Rinderknecht.
DoorDash confirmed to News 6 Thursday that Rinderknecht worked as a “Dasher” while in Florida.
The company deactivated Rinderknecht’s account “immediately upon learning of his arrest,” a spokesperson told News 6.
The spokesperson also stressed that Rinderknect was not active on DoorDash at the time of the fires.
On Oct. 7, prosecutors said an arrest warrant was served for Rinderknecht, and he was taken into custody during a traffic stop.
After the arrest, prosecutors said a search was conducted through the garage where Rinderknecht had been staying, and investigators found his unloaded handgun zipped up inside a stuffed toy.
A special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives testified on Thursday and said Rinderknecht’s family had expressed concerns about his declining mental state.
Rinderknecht’s defense attorney requested he be released on house arrest, but the judge said there were no conditions of release that would adequately address concerns for Rinderknecht to appear during each of his court hearings.
Rinderknecht was ordered to remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshall’s Service while awaiting trial on a charge of malicious destruction by means of a fire.
[WATCH: Central Florida volunteer heads to Southern California as wildfires continue to rage]