A federal prisoner convicted of sexual assault and kidnapping has escaped from a corrections facility in southern Ontario, according to police.

David Maracle, 51, is said to have left the Henry Traill Community Correctional Facility in Kingston, Ont., on foot at approximately 8:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Police and Corrections Canada don’t know whether Maracle left through a window or door or why he felt the need to walk away.

“It’s a surprise,” Corrections Canada Kingston Parole Officer Brian Wheeler told CTV Ottawa. “He’s been in the facility for some time and he seemed to be a fairly stable individual, doing what he’s supposed to do.”

Maracle served a 6 year prison sentence and then spent the last 15 months living under strict conditions at the residential transition home.

Maracle was placed under a long-term supervision order, because a judge didn’t see it fit to label him a dangerous offender. He was supposed to stay at Henry Traill Community Correctional Facility for 10 years

Henry Traill Community Correctional Facility is a home for high-risk offenders and while some residents can work out in the community, they still require long-term supervision.

“In [Maracle’s] case he was unemployed he would have a lot less access to the community. So he may have had up to five hours access over the course of 24 hour period,” explained Wheeler, adding “When he’s not under supervision […] I’d be concerned for the public.”

Maracle is described as a First Nations man with short dark hair, standing five feet and ten inches tall, and weighing 200 pounds. He was last seen wearing green and grey cargo pants, a white T-shirt, and a dark sweater or jacket.

The serial rapist from the southern Ontario Six Nations Reserve has an extensive criminal history. In 1987 he was convicted of sexual assault. In 1997 he was convicted of raping and choking a common law partner. Also in 1997 he kidnapped a 14-year-old Brantford schoolgirl at gun point. He violently and repeatedly raped her before leaving her on the road by a reserve.

“We’re doing everything in our power to make sure that we find him,” said Wheeler.

Kingston Police and the Ontario Provincial Police are continuing their search with assistance from Correctional Service Canada.

There is no indication he is going back to the Six Nations Reserve but they are still on high alert.

“Mr. Maracle is a clan member here, he does have family here, but this is a Kingston Police and OPP investigation we’ll assist in any way that we can and hopefully get him back into custody as soon as possible,’Six Nations Police Sgt. Marwood White told CTV Ottawa.

Authorities are asking the public to call 911 if they observe anyone matching his description or behaving suspiciously.

With a report from CTV Ottawa’s Catherine Lathem