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Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of 19-year-old ETHAN OLIVO and 21-year-old STARLIN SIRI of the Bronx, NY on charges of aggravated arson, arson, failure to control or report a fire, conspiracy to commit arson, receiving stolen property, and criminal mischief. The arrests were the result of a months-long investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the Rochelle Park Police Department, under the direction of Chief Dean M. Pinto.
On December 3, 2024, at approximately 7:17 a.m., the Rochelle Park Police Department and the Rochelle Park Fire Department responded to a vehicle on fire in a parking lot on Rochelle Avenue in Rochelle Park, NJ. Upon arrival, first responders discovered a 2020 Honda Accord fully engulfed in flames. The Rochelle Park Fire Department extinguished the car fire, and the Rochelle Park Police Department notified the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad. Detectives from the Arson Squad, along with arson investigators from the Bergen County Arson Task Force, initiated a joint investigation with the Rochelle Park Police Department.
In the weeks and months ahead, detectives determined that the vehicle in question was stolen. Ultimately, the investigation revealed that ETHAN OLIVO and STARLIN SIRI were in possession of the stolen Honda Accord on the morning in question, and they intentionally set it on fire in a parking lot on Rochelle Avenue by throwing a road flare into the passenger compartment of the vehicle, igniting the fire.
On Thursday, June 12, 2025, as a result of the investigation, arrest warrants were issued for ETHAN OLIVO and STARLIN SIRI. Both men were charged with second-degree aggravated arson, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1a(1); third-degree arson, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1b(2); third-degree receiving stolen property (motor vehicle), N.J.S.A. 2C:20-10.2; third-degree criminal mischief, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-3(1); fourth-degree failure to take responsible measure to put out, control, or report a fire, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1c(1); and fourth-degree conspiracy to commit aggravated arson, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1)/2C:17-1a(1).
On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, with assistance from the New York City Police Department, the Port Authority Police Department, and United States Customs and Border Protection agents, ETHAN OLIVO was located and arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport. OLIVO remains in the custody of New York authorities, pending extradition to Bergen County, NJ.
On Thursday, July 10, 2025, with the assistance of the Yorktown (NY) Police Department, STARLIN SIRI was located and arrested in Yorktown, NY. Consequently, on Monday, August 4, 2025, SIRI was extradited to Bergen County, NJ with the assistance of the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office. SIRI remains in custody at the Bergen County Jail, pending a detention hearing in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, NJ.
Prosecutor Mark Musella states that the charges are merely accusations, and that both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutor Musella would like to thank the Rochelle Park Police Department, Rochelle Park Fire Department, and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance with this investigation. Additionally, he thanks the Emerson Police Department and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office for their participation in the Bergen County Arson Task Force. Finally, Prosecutor Musella would like to recognize and thank the New York City Police Department, the Yorktown (NY) Police Department, the Port Authority Police Department, the Department of Homeland Security, United States Customs and Border Protection, and the Westchester County (NY) Department of Correction for their assistance in the apprehension of the defendants.