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A standoff in Aurora on Thursday came to a safe but empty ending when a fugitive thought to be holed up in a home was not inside the residence.

Before 2 p.m., Aurora police announced that officers were in the area East 19th Avenue and Akron Street where a man wanted on two felony warrants had holed up in a home that wasn’t his and police started negotiations for the suspect to surrender.

Using a reverse 911 call, police ordered nearby residents to shelter in place, advising people to stay away from windows, lock their doors and go to a basement if possible. Residents who needed assistance were urged to call 911.

The fugitive was described as a 38-year-old man wanted by the Colorado Department of Corrections for an escape. He’s also wanted on a warrant for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On Twitter, police said they were in contact with the fugitive by phone and were asking him to surrender peacefully. Pleas were also made over a bullhorn. The fugitive was the only person inside the home, police said. People were urged to avoid the area if possible.

The more than four-hour standoff took a dramatic twist when police announced on Twitter that the fugitive was nowhere to be found.

“When officers first arrived on scene they found a kicked in door,” police said in a 6:51 p.m. tweet. “The resident of the house said the door was not previously broken. This led officers to believe the fugitive was inside that home. The home has been cleared and the fugitive is not inside.”

The shelter in place order was lifted and police continue to look for the suspect, identified as 38-year-old Alexander Smith. Anyone with information on Smith’s whereabouts is asked to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867 (STOP).