A three-hour search for a wanted Nikiski man came up empty Wednesday night.

Alaska State Troopers received a tip that Aaron James Duvall, 26, was located on Mile 2 of Island Lake Road. Troopers responded, set up a perimeter of the area and searched for Duvall from 7-10 p.m. but Duvall escaped, said trooper spokesperson Beth Ipsen.

The trooper K-9 dog Scout was also on scene but Duvall escaped, Ipsen said.

Duvall has a $3,000 active warrant out for his arrest for a parole violation stemming from a 2013 offense. The warrant was issued on Sept. 5, according to court records.

Duvall also has an outstanding misdemeanor theft charge and missed a court date on Oct. 6 for a change of plea hearing. Kenai District Court Judge Sharon Illsley issued a summons for him.

In 2013, Duvall, and four others, were arrested on theft and burglary charges.

In January he pled guilty to felony burglary, vehicle and firearm theft charges. Duvall was sentenced to 36 months in jail with two years suspended.

According to reports filed by troopers, Nikiski resident Don Matthews called troopers on June 9, 2013 and told them his Nikiski home had been burglarized.

While Matthews was at work, thieves took several things including his his 2010 Ford pickup. They also took 13 guns, ammunition, food, a computer, a chainsaw, a log splitter and other items — for a total value of about $50,000.

Matthews had a game camera set up in his yard and recorded three suspects taking items from his home and loading those things into his pickup, according to trooper affidavit.

The alleged perpetrators were charged with nine felony charges — three counts of first-degree burglary, five second-degree theft counts and one count of first-degree vehicle theft.

On Aug. 6, 2013 defense attorneys entered pleas of not guilty to all counts for Duvall, Renee Miranda, 46 of Nikiski, Lee Graham, 49, and Candace Peterson, 24, at a Kenai Superior Court arraignment.

Since the town hall meeting in Nikiski in late September, wanted posters for Duvall have been spread out around the community asking residents to call troopers or Peninsula Crimestoppers if he is seen.

Duvall is 5’10 tall, 190 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. He has a devil tattoo on his forearm, according to court records.

If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of AJ Duvall, call trooper dispatch at 262-4453 or Peninsula Crimestoppers at 1-800-478-Halt.

Reach Dan Balmer at daniel.balmer@peninsulaclarion.com