By Nicole June

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – After an intense seven-day manhunt, accused murderer Kirby Wallace has been taken into custody as of Friday morning.

Photo: (MCSO)

Authorities said he was apprehended without incident and transported to the Stewart County Jail.

During a press conference Friday morning, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sandra Brandon expressed relief and thanked the community as well as the law enforcement officials who worked tirelessly to bring the manhunt to an end.

“Evil may exist, but as long as we have good men like this that are willing to put their lives in harm’s way, good will prevail,” she said.

Henry County Sheriff Monte Bellew and a corporal from Henry County took Wallace into custody shortly after 10:15 a.m. Friday near Riversbend Rd. in Stewart County.

During the press conference, Bellew said he and the corporal had just entered a wooded area right outside of the ‘hot zone’ and found two deer stands that allowed them a view of both the woods and a nearby field from an elevated position. Bellew said a man he was able to identify as Wallace came within 40 yards of him, then stepped under a nearby oak tree.

When Wallace then moved to the left side of the tree, he had his hands around his waist and the sheriff said he anticipated a firefight. However, Wallace then put his hands back in the air and Bellew and the corporal were able to get him to the ground while Bellew had an AR-15 rifle trained on him. They then put him in handcuffs.

Bellew said they found a loaded handgun in Wallace’s waistband but did not find any other weapons on his person. It is unclear at this time whether any other weapons were found in the woods within the perimeter.

“We’re very fortunate that we didn’t wind up in a shootout with the suspect up there,” Bellew said. “It crossed his mind because he told us it crossed his mind.”

Henry County Sheriff Monte Bellew (Photo: WKRN)

Wallace has been on the run in rural Montgomery and Stewart counties since Saturday. He is the suspect in two murders and a host of other crimes.

A  “credible sighting” of Wallace was reported Friday around 6:30 a.m. The search area was moved near the intersection of Riversbend Road and Wildcat Creek Road, which is in Stewart County.

Throughout the course of the search, the reward for information leading to Wallace’s arrest had increased to $20,000.

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Photos courtesy of THP and WKRN

During the press conference Friday, Montgomery County Sheriff John Fuson and other law enforcement representatives thanked the community and agencies all across the state for the outpouring of support and assistance during the search.

“We are very proud to have this day come…I couldn’t begin to thank the public for what they have done,” Fuson said. “We can get back to a sense of normalcy knowing this criminal is in custody and will face justice for what he has done.”

At least 24 agencies from all over the state of Tennessee assisted in the search, which occurred in the rural areas of Montgomery and Stewart counties over rough and hazardous terrain.