Hackensack Man Charged In Friday’s Garfield Auto Theft & Arson Incident
Wednesday, July 16, 2025, 7:45 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebtook Independent News,
GARFIELD, NJ.- On Friday, following an investigation, a 60-year-old Hackensack, New Jersey, man was taken into custody and jailed after being charged in connection with allegedly stealing and setting it on fire during the early morning hours of Friday, July 11, 2025, in Garfield, New Jersey.
According to Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella, on Friday, July 11, 2025, shortly after 1:15 a.m., members of the Garfield Police Department responded to a report that a 2019 Honda Civic from a local bar located on Monroe Street in the Borough of Garfield, New Jersey.
Upon arrival, Police Officers were informed by the victim that while they were at a local borough tavern, they had placed their car keys on the bar, and within minutes, the keys went missing. While gathering information from the victim, Police Officers observed an active car fire on the 100 Block of Monroe Street.
Police Officers Locate Stolen Car On Fire
Police Officers quickly confirmed that the stolen Honda Civic was on fire and requested assistance from the Garfield Fire Department, which responded to the scene and extinguished the fire.
Detectives Identify Taylor As The Suspect
Following the preliminary investigation, the Garfield Police Department and the Garfield Fire Department notified the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad. During the ensuing investigation, Detectives of the Arson Squad, along with Investigators from the Bergen County Arson Task Force and the Garfield Police Department, determined that Troy R. Taylor, 60, of Hackensack, New Jersey, removed the keys from the top of the bar, stole the Honda Civic, drove it a short distance away, before intentionally setting it on fire and walking away from the scene.
Accordingly, as a result of the investigation, on Friday, July 11, 2025, Taylor was located and taken into custody and formally charged with one count of second-degree Aggravated Arson; third-degree Arson; third-degree Theft by Unlawful Taking; third-degree Criminal Mischief; and fourth-degree Failure to Take Responsible Measure to Put Out, Control, or Report a Fire.
Taylor was processed on the charges and remanded to the Bergen County Jail, pending future court proceedings in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, New Jersey.

“The rules of the court require us to include a statement that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.”