Story by Ethan
On February 27th, 2026, the arrest of Sean P. McDermott, age 36, was announced by Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella. Sean P. McDermott was charged with second-degree Attempted Aggravated Arson, third-degree Attempted Arson, and fourth-degree Recklessly Creating a Risk of Widespread Injury or Damage. The arrest and charges against Sean P. McDermott were a result of an investigation handled by the East Rutherford Police Department, Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, Jersey City Police Department, New York City Police Department, Pocono Mountain Regional (PA) Police Department, and the Port Authority Police Department.
According to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, at approximately 10:35 a.m. on February 25th, 2026, reports of unusual activity at the Residence Inn were reported and responded to by the East Rutherford Police Department. Responding officers located a burning pile of clothes in a pot on a stove inside one of the hotel’s guest rooms. This led to a joint investigation being conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad and the East Rutherford Police Department. Detectives allege that Sean P. McDermott was a guest at the Residence Inn when he intentionally set clothing ablaze by putting the aforementioned clothing in a pot and placing the pot on the stove. After turning on the stove the defendant left the room and allegedly fled to New York City. Hotel staff quickly picked up on the scent of something burning before then entering the room and turning off the stove. The stove was turned off before the clothes were fully ignited. Later the same day Sean P. McDermott was located and arrested in Manhattan, New York without incident.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office stated that the charges against Sean P. McDermott are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
