DENVER -- A hand-shackled prisoner broke free from military agents at Denver International Airport Wednesday afternoon, triggering a police search of a passenger concourse.

The fugitive, facing charges of AWOL from Fort Carson, was identified as Terrance Wayne Hilton, said Denver police Detective Leslie Branch-Wise.

"He was fully handcuffed with a waistbelt on and he was able to run from those officers," said Branch-Wise.

Hilton, who escaped on the day before his 20th birthday, was described as white, 5-feet-10 inches tall, 145 pounds, with short light brown hair and hazel eyes.

He was wearing a dark green or black hoodie with a white T-shirt, black shorts and white tennis shoes, police said. He was also shackled by waist handcuffs.

The military police were transporting Hilton from Salt Lake City to Colorado Springs when he escaped about 3:10 p.m., said DIA spokesman Chuck Cannon.

Police and security guards searched Concourse B and confirmed the escapee was no longer there, Cannon said. Authorities suspect he boarded the airport shuttle train and may have escaped the terminal.

Authorities have issued alerts for police to look out for Hilton, who does not have a history of violence, Branch-Wise said.

Fort Carson officials said Hilton is with the 1st Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. He is from the Grand Junction area.

"So he may be familiar with this airport and he may be headed back that direction," said Branch-Wise.