Family Still Shaken By Ohman, Standoff

SIOUX FALLS, SD - Charles Ohman was one of Minnehaha County's most wanted.  His latest charges include aggravated kidnapping and assault.

The standoff between police and Ohman put an east side Sioux Falls neighborhood on edge.

The family who lives in the home where Ohman barricaded himself in near South Wayland Avenue and East Nye Street says they’re still pretty shaken up.

"He ate all of our food.  He trashed our house.  He threw everything everywhere, barricaded our steps.  It was terrible," Caleb Elbeytari said.

There are also holes left in the walls of Elbeytari's home.  He says the damage is all from Ohman, one of Minnehaha County's most wanted fugitives, who locked himself in the house for more than 12 hours, attempting to evade police.

"The guy told us his name was Dave, I didn't think anything was wrong with the guy at first," Elbeytari said.

Ohman had been invited into Elbeytari's home by a family member. He had only stayed there a couple times. Elbeytari says Ohman seemed harmless until he started asking odd questions about serving prison time, making Elbeytari uncomfortable.

"I had this weird intuition to leave the house," Elbeytari said. 

Just as he did, he ran into police, who showed him a picture of Ohman and asked if he was in the house.

"My mom is upset.  I'm upset.  everybody's upset, so it's traumatic for everyone," Elbeytari said.

It's not only the family who lives in the home that's still shaken up, but much of the neighborhood, including these neighbors who live right next door. They had seen Ohman walk by their home the day before.

"I didn't think anything of it.  I didn't catch his face because so many people come and go from here," Doug Oren said. 

Oren didn't find out who he was until he came home from work to find SWAT members surrounding the home.  He wasn't allowed into his home; his wife was barricaded in the couple’s basement.

"It’s been a long 12 ½ hours," Oren said. 

While both Oren and Elbeytari still have thoughts of, 'What if', they're both happy it's over and Ohman is behind bars.

"When I found out it was over, it was really a relief," Oren said.

"It was scary," Elbeytari said.