HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A prisoner walked away from a Dauphin County correctional facility on July 4, but his independence did not last thanks to an alert hotel employee.

Shane Betts tried to stay at the Comfort Inn in Harrisburg. He paid cash for his room.

When guests pay cash, they must show a photo identification. The only identification he had on him was his identification card from the Department of Corrections.

Wil Koonse, the hotel's general manager, said that alone didn't send up a red flag, but the woman working behind the desk noticed something else.

"She was going through looking at all the registration cards making sure everything was correct on them. She noticed the name and recognized the name and realized he was the one who walked away from the halfway house," Koonse said.

Police were then called.

State police went to the room and found a woman, but no Betts.

"He went out for a beer run, and they were actually in the room waiting on him when he got back he did try and run, but he didn't get very far," Koonse said.

Betts was serving time here at the Harrisburg Community Correction Center on Cameron Street for burglary.

He wasn't there when room checks were done July 4.

"This is a nonsecure facility. It's a prerelease facility. There are no bars on windows. The purpose is to come here and get ready to go to work and go on parole," said Paul O'Connor, acting director of Community Corrections.

Now Betts is behind bars at the Camp Hill Prison and faces more prison time.

Koonse told News 8 the hotel plans to honor the employee who called police.