The suspect who allegedly shot and injured New York State Trooper Becky Seager Wednesday night in Broome County is now in custody.
Investigators say they were called to East Windsor Road in the Town of Colesville on reports of a man drawing on the road. Deputies were asked to check on the man's welfare, according to Broome County Sheriff David Harder.
State police were called for backup, and when officers arrived, the suspect allegedly took off running, shooting at the officers and hitting Seager with a bullet in the hip, according to authorities.
A sheriff's deputy was able to bring her into a patrol car. She was later transported by ambulance to Wilson Memorial Hospital and is expected to recover, police said. Seager has served the New York State Police for seven years.
Troopers say there was an exchange of gunfire between the officers and the suspect, 34-year-old Jason D. Johnson. Authorities spent Thursday actively searching for Johnson and located him around 4:30 p.m. off State Route 79 in Colesville. Authorities said he was arrested without incident.
Schools were shut down and neighbors were asked to shelter indoors while Johnson was being pursued.
"It was definitely crazy," said Harpursville resident Mary Button. "I was up all night watching the choppers and everything else."
SWAT teams checked vehicles as they entered the alleged area where the suspect could have been.
Just down the road, a mobile command center took over Main Street, with agencies from throughout the state on high alert.
Driving through the chaos, one former resident was overwhelmed by what he saw.
"These cops, they have a tough job these days and I certainly wouldn't want to have it. I can't judge that and I also don't know what was going through the head of that guy who felt threatened enough to shoot somebody," said John St. John.
Troop C Commander Todd Stratton says police always fear these types of situations on every call they go to, even when the call may seem routine.
"We certainly do. At this point, [Seager] seems to be doing better. We're praying for her, and at this point, our goal is her welfare," said Stratton.