Clifton PD: City Man Stole Another's Spray Paint, Vandalized His Car With It

A Clifton man sprayed graffiti on the inside windshield of another man’s vehicle before dawn Friday with cans of paint that he found in it, authorities said.

Mauricio Mejia
Photo Credit: *MUGSHOT: Courtesy CLIFTON PD*

Jerry DeMarco

08/30/2019 3:11 p.m.

Officers responding to a 2 a.m. call said they found both men fighting on Burgess Place near Paulison Avenue.

The victim apparently had followed the other man there after seeing him rummaging through his vehicle and discovering the graffiti, Sgt. Robert Anderson said.

The defendant, identified as 18-year-old Mauricio Mejia, also had been pulling on door handles of other vehicles nearby, the victim told police.

When confronted, Mejia “became aggressive and brandished a knife,” Anderson said.

Responding officers found Mejia with the paint on his clothing and carrying spray paint cans that matched the color of the graffiti, the sergeant said.

He was also carrying a box cutter, Anderson said.

Mejia was arrested on charges of armed burglary, criminal mischief and weapons offenses, he said.

Click here to follow Daily Voice Rutherford and receive free news updates.