2 Jersey City teens caught spray-painting traffic box, signs in North Bergen: cops

Jersey Journal
Anthony J. Machcinski
September 09, 2013

Police said the incident occurred at 18th Street and Kennedy Boulevard in North Bergen.

NORTH BERGEN -- Two Jersey City men were arrested in North Bergen after an off-duty sergeant saw them spray-painting traffic signs on Kennedy Boulevard, police said.

Early Saturday morning, the sergeant saw two men acting suspiciously on Kennedy Boulevard near 18th Street, police said. While watching them, the sergeant said he saw them remove markers and spray paint and began putting graffiti on a traffic light box and three traffic signs, police said.

The men then got onto a commuter van and headed south on Kennedy Boulevard, police said.

The sergeant called into the police desk, which then sent a police car stop the van, police said. Police stopped the van in Jersey City and an officer arrested the two men, police said.

Mahoud Abdelqader, 18, and Jose Rivera, 19 both of Jersey City, face a criminal mischief charge. Abdelqader was additionally charged with possession of CDS after police discovered a small bag of marijuana on him, police said.

Abdelqader was taken to the Hudson County jail on $1,000 bail with a 10 percent option and he was released after making bail, police said.

Rivera was later released on a summons, police said.