HCCC inmate sought

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Police are searching for a 32-year-old man who walked away from Hawaii Community Correctional Center’s Hale Nani facility.

Police are searching for a 32-year-old man who walked away from Hawaii Community Correctional Center’s Hale Nani facility.

Dallas Wesley Runyon of Ka‘u escaped from the facility in Panaewa on Saturday.

Capt. Peter Cabreros, chief of security, said Runyon is believed to have left about 10:40 a.m.

That’s when an alarm went off, notifying staff that a side door had been opened, Cabreros said.

A head count was done, which identified Runyon as missing.

Police responded at 10:58 a.m. when the report came in but were unable to locate him, said a spokeswoman.

Hale Nani, as a community-based facility, is a step below the state’s minimal-security prisons in terms of security.

It has no fences, and inmates are housed in dorms.

The facility allows inmates to work jobs outside of its grounds, but mandates they return.

Cabreros said Runyon had a landscaping job outside Hale Nani.

He was sentenced to the facility for a theft conviction, Cabreros said.

Runyon had served about a month of his sentence.

He was set for release in April.

Runyon is described as Caucasian, about 5-foot-10, 175 pounds with blue eyes and shoulder-length brown or blond hair.

He was last seen wearing a white shirt with “Inmate” printed on the back, grey sweat pants, and shoes. He may have a goatee and mustache.

Runyon also has several tattoos, with the most prominent ones being a gargoyle on his right forearm, a dragon on his inner left forearm, and others on his right arm and both legs. He is not considered dangerous.

Police still advise the public to avoid contacting him. To report a sighting or his known whereabouts, call Detective Joel Field at 961-2381. Field can be emailed at jfield@co.hawaii.hi.us.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.