A Fort Drum Soldier on the run for three days is now in custody. Private First Class Russell Marcum was arrested Saturday afternoon in Dryden. Authorities had been searching for him since Thursday. Our Iris St. Meran spoke with State Police about their efforts to finally track him down.

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DRYDEN, N.Y. -- Private First Class Russell Marcum evaded police for three days. But Saturday afternoon, they caught up with the Fort Drum Soldier in Dryden.

New York State Police Lieutenant Daniel Hodack"He essentially walked out to the road to turn himself in."

Authorities were in pursuit of the 20-year-old since Thursday when he escaped from military custody in Jefferson County where he was being held on burglary charges.

The search for him extended through several counties including Madison, Oneida, Otsego, Cortland and finally Tompkins county after police received vital information about his whereabouts, more than 100 miles from where it all started.

Hodack said, "We had somewhat been tracking him up to that point. That was certainly the final piece that we needed. He knew we were closing in, so he surrendered."

Surrendered with no weapons on him Hodack said. Over the three days, he allegedly stole two cars. There was some concern that he might have been armed and a danger to people living in the area. But now there's relief.

"Certainly the safety of our own officers as well as the safety of Mr. Marcum was a concern of ours throughout the entire investigation," said Hodack.

With the search over the investigation turns to a question that many would like answered and that's, why?

Marcum is facing several felony charges in this incident. He's was already charged with burglary in Jefferson county before this multi-county search. State Police say anyone else who may have helped him could face charges, but that has yet to be determined. Marcum is being held at State Police Barracks in Ithaca.