Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 78-year-old JAIME MAGNELLI, SR. of Hackensack, NJ on charges of aggravated arson, arson, risk of widespread injury or damage, failure to control or report a fire, and criminal mischief. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the Hackensack Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Antista.
On Saturday, August 30, 2025, at approximately 8:09 p.m., the Hackensack Police Department and the Hackensack Fire Department were dispatched to Hackensack Municipal Parking Lot Area T, which is located at 78 Trinity Place in Hackensack, NJ, adjacent to the Bergen County Islamic Center, where several Hackensack police cars were on fire. Parking Lot T is used as an overflow parking area for city police vehicles. Upon arrival, first responders discovered three marked Hackensack Police Department vehicles were actively burning.
Following their initial response and fire suppression efforts, the Hackensack Police Department and Hackensack Fire Department notified the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad that the car fires appeared to be suspicious in nature. Detectives and arson investigators from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office responded to the scene and initiated a joint investigation with the Hackensack Police Department. The investigation revealed that JAIME MAGNELLI, SR. approached three parked, unoccupied police vehicles and intentionally set them on fire by igniting an accelerant he poured onto each vehicle before fleeing the scene. Detectives determined that while no injuries were reported, the city vehicles were in close proximity to the Hackensack municipal gas pumps and an occupied place of worship when the fires were set.
On Tuesday, September 2, 2025, as a result of the investigation, JAIME MAGNELLI, SR. was arrested and charged with second-degree aggravated arson, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1a(1); second-degree causing or risking widespread injury or damage, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-2a(1); third-degree arson, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1b(1); third-degree criminal mischief, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-3a(1); and fourth-degree failure to take responsible measure to put out, control, or report a fire, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1c(1). JAIME MAGNELLI, SR. was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, 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.
Prosecutor Musella would like to thank the Hackensack Police Department, the Hackensack Fire Department, and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in this investigation. Additionally, he would like to thank the Emerson Police Department, the Teaneck Fire Department, and the Township of Washington Police Department, which all participate in the Bergen County Arson Task Force.
