Sean P. McDermott
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 36-year-old SEAN P. MCDERMOTT, with recent addresses in Tobyhanna, PA and East Moriches, NY, on charges of attempted aggravated arson, attempted arson, and creating a risk of widespread injury or damage. The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Jeff Angermeyer, and the East Rutherford Police Department, under the direction of Chief Dennis Rivelli.
On Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at approximately 10:35 a.m., the East Rutherford Police Department responded to reports of unusual activity at the Residence Inn. Upon arrival, hotel staff advised responding officers that they located burning clothes in a pot on a stove in one of the guestrooms. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad was notified, responded to the scene, and initiated a joint investigation with the East Rutherford Police Department.
The investigation revealed that SEAN P. MCDERMOTT, a hotel guest, intentionally attempted to set fire to clothing in his hotel room by placing the clothing in a pot on an electric stove and turning the stove on before leaving the property. Hotel staff detected the odor of burning, entered the room, and shut off the stove before the clothing fully ignited. Detectives determined that MCDERMOTT fled toward New York City when he departed the hotel.
As a result of the investigation, SEAN P. MCDERMOTT was charged with second-degree attempted aggravated arson, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a(1)/2C:17-1a(1); third-degree attempted arson, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a(1)/2C:17-1b(1); and fourth-degree recklessly creating a risk of widespread injury or damage, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-2c. Accordingly, the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”) was notified of this investigation.
Later that day, on February 25, 2026, SEAN P. MCDERMOTT was located in Manhattan by the NYPD and placed under arrest. MCDERMOTT remains in the custody of New York State authorities pending extradition to Bergen County, NJ.
Prosecutor Mark Musella states that the charges are merely accusations, and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He would like to thank the East Rutherford Police Department and Bergen County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in this investigation. Moreover, Prosecutor Musella thanks the Jersey City Police Department, the New York City Police Department, the Pocono Mountain Regional (PA) Police Department, and the Port Authority Police Department for their assistance throughout this investigation and with locating the defendant.