An Oahu Community Correctional Center prisoner who escaped while on work furlough 15 months ago was arrested by police Wednesday afternoon in Manoa.

Police said Nathan Lee, 44, was found in front of a Kumuone Street home by Crime Reduction Unit officers from East Honolulu and Central Oahu. The suspect attempted to run away but was captured by officers at about 12:45 p.m., police said. He was booked for investigation of second-degree escape and resisting arrest.

Lee was assigned to the Laumaka Work Furlough Program and was working independently in the community when he failed to return Aug. 24, 2010, said Toni Schwartz, public information officer for the state Department of Public Safety.

His sentence was set to expire in July 2011, Schwartz said.

Lee was found guilty of promoting a dangerous drug in 2000 and then sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The Hawaii Paroling Authority set the minimum sentence at three years and six months, said Tommy Johnson, authority administrator.

Lee was released on parole in 2006 but was arrested a year later for violating the terms of his parole, Johnson said. At the parole violation hearing, Lee was found guilty of multiple counts of possessing methamphetamine and failing to report to his parole officer, he said. Lee’s term was then extended 295 days, which would have left him in prison through July 21.