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Alexander Roccamo, 22, of Clifton, and Nicholas Tsatsaros, 24, of North Caldwell were released on summonses pending a court hearing on charges of criminal mischief and resisting arrest.
It began around 8:30 p.m. Thursday when police found a four-door 1997 Buick LeSabre registed to an elderly Clifton woman parked on Crane Avenue near the southbound Route 17 service road, Capt. Patrick Feliciano said Friday.
"A concerned citizen reported that two males wearing all black clothing with hoods covering their faces exited the vehicle carrying backpacks and walked towards the service road," the captain said.
The pair bolted in different directions after Officer James Fecanin caught they spraypainting a barrier moments later, Feliciano said.
Fecanin chased after Tsatsaros as he ran along the sound barrier wall eastbound, jumped over the guide rail, crossed over Thomas E. Dunn Memorial Highway and scaled a fence into the yard of a residence on Arthur Drive -- where the officer found him hiding under hedges, the captain said.
Officer Matthew Van Dyk,, meanwhile, found Roccamo trying to disguise himself in leaves, branches and dirt at the intersection of Van Riper Avenue and Feronia Way, he said.
"His right hand was covered with black paint," Feliciano said.
At the sound barrier police found two backpacks filled with spray paint cans, as well as freshly painted graffiti on the walls, the captain said.
Tsatsaros also ditched a pair of gloves wet with fresh paint during the chase, he said.
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