JACKSON, Tenn. — Witnesses who spotted murder suspect Austin Drummond around Jackson before his arrest Tuesday are telling their stories to WREG.

Ricardo Contreras said he and a crew were painting a house Tuesday when a worker told him he saw a man walking in the woods.

“At that point I knew it was him,” Contreras said. “Because who else can be walking in between the woods, especially in that area.”

He debated on whether he should call police, but decided to call. About 15 minutes later, someone told him Drummond was in custody.

“I just want to go back home and hug my family,” Contreras said.

Bill Callahan said he called 911 when the crew painting his house told him they’d seen a man walking in the woods. He never saw Drummond but said within 10 minutes, there was a “flurry of activity” as officers and agents swarmed the woods.

“My wife was right. She had a feeling he was right around us, and I was wrong,” Callahan said. “It’s kind of a surreal experience at this point. It doesn’t feel real, I’m sure later it’s going to hit us. But I’m very happy he’s off the streets and everybody’s safe now.”

Another man, John Stechauner, said he was doing work for some friends when they saw the back door of the greenhouse open, which is never left open. He said he looked up and saw a man walking through the area.

That’s when he says he called 911, and within 15 minutes, Drummond was arrested.

Officials with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and several local law enforcement agencies thanked the public for their tips in a news conference following Drummond’s arrest Tuesday.

Jackson Police Chief Thom Corley said the department received several calls about possible sightings of Drummond beginning around 8 a.m. One of those calls came in at 8:57 — officers worked quickly and made the arrest at 9:05.

TBI said more than one tipster may be eligible for a reward for information in the case.

Drummond had been living in a vacant building, though it was unclear how long he had been there, Corley said. He confirmed that building was a pool house.

Drummond had been on the run for a week, ever since a family of four was found dead and a baby abandoned in a yard in northwest Tennessee on July 29. He was captured Tuesday in Jackson.