NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Police are looking Friday for an inmate who walked away from his work detail Thursday night.

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Richard McKeel, 34, was part of a program at the Charles Bass Correctional complex.

He left his job at the Bellevue Waffle House on Highway 70 around 8 p.m. without telling anyone.

Workers said the manager later found a note from McKeel.

McKeel had been serving a 13-year sentence for aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, theft of property and forgery, officials said.

He had qualified for a work release program based on good behavior and the remainder of his sentence -- his sentence expires in 2011.

Participants in the program are permitted to go to work during the day but must return to their cell by 9 p.m. Guards said when they went to pick up McKeel from work, he wasn’t there.

Waffle House restaurants have taken part in hiring prisoners for a number of years.

"It was surprising to everyone. We don't know the motive why he would just walk away,” said SouthEast Waffles, LLC Human Resources Director Charles Yancey.

Waffle House officials said McKeel was a model employee, a good worker and was never late.

"He will be disciplined and removed from the work-release program and will end up serving more because of the decision he made last night," said Department of Corrections spokesperson Dorinda Carter.

McKeel is a white man with a fair complexion, brown hair, 6 feet tall and weighing 185 pounds. He was last seen wearing his Waffle House uniform.

Police said anyone with information on the whereabouts of McKeel is asked to call police at 615-862-8600.