The man accused of having run over the father of American rapper Nicki Minaj in a car, then of having fled, was arrested on Wednesday.
Charles Polevich, 70, was charged with having "left the scene of an accident which caused a death and falsified evidence", said local police.
She added to CNN that the suspect was suspected of hiding his car after the crash and that the vehicle was found using surveillance cameras.
Released on bail
His lawyer, master Michael Scotto, explained to the CNN channel that the septuagenarian had pleaded not guilty and was released after the payment of a bond of 250,000 dollars - a little more than 207,000 euros.
He has no criminal record.
Nicki Minaj's father, Robert Maraj, 64, was walking down the street in Mineola, Long Island, New York, on Friday, February 12, when he was hit by a car.
The driver fled and the victim was taken to hospital where she died on Saturday.
The 38-year-old New York rapper, born in Trinidad and Tobago, has not yet spoken officially.