The Binghamton police captain who was struck by a hit-and-run driver as he walked to the police station is out of the hospital. Police say John Chapman is recuperating at home from injuries he sustained Monday morning.

Mayor Matthew Ryan says Chapman was "pretty banged up" but was not hurt as seriously as initially feared.

Ryan credited surveillance cameras with assisting investigators in identifying a suspect soon after Chapman was hit.

Speaking on WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now, Ryan said a police department sergeant recalled seeing a parked vehicle on Washington Street that matched the description of the one sought in the case. The vehicle apparently had been ticketed while it was parked.

Ryan said police examined video recorded around the time of the hit-and-run incident. He said the vehicle that had been parked nearby "just happened to move" moments before Chapman was struck at the intersection of Washington Street and North Shore Drive.

Ryan said police also were able to view "some of the turns" made by the suspect vehicle from the video.

Police chief Joseph Zikuski conferring with investigators shortly after Captain Chapman was injured. Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News
Police chief Joseph Zikuski conferring with investigators shortly after Captain Chapman was injured. Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News
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The mayor said the suspect initially denied to police he was the driver of the vehicle involved. But, according to Ryan, when he was informed of the video, he changed his story and told investigators "he was scared" after the incident.

Ryan said the quick arrest was the result of "great police work."

Police charged 28-year-old Terence Meehan of Binghamton with leaving the scene of a personal injury accident and operating an unregistered vehicle.

Meehan was taken into custody less than five hours after Chapman was hit.

According to Broome County Jail records, he was processed into the Front Street facility at 5 p.m. Monday. He was released on $10,000 bail four hours later.

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