Honolulu police are searching for a 30-year-old man who escaped from the Hawai'i State Hospital in Käne'ohe yesterday afternoon.

David True Seal escaped at about 2:30 p.m. and was spotted at 4:15 p.m. near the entrance to the Stairway to Heaven at Ha'iku Road and Kuneki Street, police said. The suspect was wearing a blue and white long sleeve flannel shirt and light blue jeans.

HPD is using its helicopter and canine unit to search for Seal.

In 2002, True was acquitted by reason of insanity of two counts of first-degree sexual assault and kidnapping, according to documents filed with the state Criminal Justice Data Center. The alleged incidents occurred on Maui.

The public is urged to use caution and not approach Seal.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call 911.