A man who escaped from police custody Thursday in Clarion County, precipitating a large-scale manhunt, was taken into custody yesterday.

Samuel John Myers, 20, of Sligo, Clarion County, had been in police custody on drug-dealing charges when he fled from officers about 5 p.m. Thursday into a wood area along Monterey Road in Toby Township.

State police and local law enforcement officers assisted by a K-9 unit from Knox and a state police helicopter searched the area for Mr. Myers.

During the evening hours, police followed phone tips and conducted interviews. Mr. Myers was sighed along Monerey Road Thursday night and a perimeter was established along Monterrey and Kemery roads. The search was called off at 10 a.m. because of darkness.

The search resumed yesterday and, state police said, Mr. Myers was located, taken into custody and remanded to Clarion County Prison.