When it was over, police were more interested in getting help for the man than they were in charging him.

But in the heat of the moment ’ when Greg Papin’s threats of killing police officers still were fresh in the minds of responding units and police were unsure whether he was holding a hostage ’ evacuation was urgent.

And that’s what roommates Ryan Hoberg and Justin Larson, and Larson’s girlfriend Jessica Powers and their infant son, Braden, woke to Monday morning.

Papin, 27, reportedly an Iraq War veteran and a part-time law enforcement student at Minnesota State University, had called a crisis line to complain about slow treatment he’d received from the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He told the crisis center he was going to ’make a stand’ in his Glenwood Terrace apartment. The crisis line, in turn, called police.

Papin’s friend Kristopher Pete Rysavy, 24, was with Papin, and police were unsure whether he was there willingly or being held hostage. So when they came to Hoberg and Larson’s room ’ and the rooms of many others in the complex ’ police told more than 40 residents there was a hostage situation and everyone had to get out immediately.

’I almost started crying,’ Powers said. ’I was like, ’Oh crap! What are going to do!’’

They gathered belongings and were directed to a waiting area. Eventually they were driven by city bus to the Red Cross where they were fed and entertained. By 10:30 a.m. they’d watched ’Bee Movie’ and were about to watch ’Evan Almighty.’

And by 10:45 a.m., it was over.

For complete story, see the Tuesday, May 6, 2008, print edition of The Free Press or sign onto our e-edition.

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