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The 39-year-old Clifton resident was bleeding from the head when he flagged down a passing patrol car, Detective Lt. Robert Bracken said early Monday.
The victim told police two people approached him from behind in the 100 block of Clifton Avenue, then took off after assaulting him, Bracken said.
Several units converged on the area.
During the search, Officer John Ferraro found a suspicious-looking group in Nash Park, Bracken said.
One of them, 21-year-old Gilberto Perez, "had no shirt on and blood on his boots," he said.
A 17-year-old Passaic boy, meanwhile, "was wearing clothing similar to what had been observed by patrol officers on surveillance video," the lieutenant said.
Ferraro, along with Officers Robert Domski and Alexander Tredy, took both into custody.
Perez was charged with aggravated assault and weapons possession, while the boy was issued a delinquency complaint on the same charges.
The victim was treated at the hospital and later released after receiving staples in his head.
"The motive for the crime is unknown at this time," Bracken said. "However, robbery has not been ruled out.
"All of the patrol officers involved in this incident did an outstanding job in the investigation and quick apprehension of the suspects involved," the lieutenant added.
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