Authorities are investigating how a 34-year-old Waiawa Correctional Facility inmate, who was eligible to be released in October, managed to escape and was free for around three hours early this morning.

Luis Garcia was reported missing from the minimum security prison facility in Waipio following the 11:45 p.m. headcount on Monday.

Police found him a few hours later near Kamehameha Highway and Salt Lake Boulevard at 3:45 a.m.

Garcia was serving time for burglary, kidnapping, forgery and theft and was eligible for release Oct. 11.