Trucking Company Owner, 2 Others, Charged With Closter Insurance Arson

CLOSTER, N.J. -- Authorities charged a Hasbrouck Heights trucking company owner and two alleged accomplices with torching a vacant Closter home in October for the insurance money.

Terence Philippi
Photo Credit: *MUGSHOT: Courtesy BERGEN COUNTY SHERIFF*

After the fire.
Photo Credit: *COURTESY: Closter PD*

Sean Halvorsen
Photo Credit: *MUGSHOT: Courtesy BERGEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR*

Jerry DeMarco

01/28/2016 5:00 p.m.

Daily Voice reported earlier that Terence Philippi, 67, a trucking company operator who owns the Closter Dock Road home, was taken into custody.

Also arrested were Sean Halvorsen, 24, of Wallington and Zachary Rosario, 20, of Ridgefield Park, acting Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir Grewal announced Thursday afternoon.

All were ordered held on $250,000 bail, charged with aggravated arson, insurance fraud and causing a fire/explosion for pay.

The Bergen County Prosecutor's Arson Investigation Unit and Major Crimes Unit made the case with borough detectives after firefighters put down the 6 a.m. Oct. 10.

They "determined that Philippi, Halvorsen and Rosario were responsible for planning and setting the fire in the vacant home for the purpose of collecting the insurance monies," Grewal sad. "The house was owned by Philippi at the time."

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