BLOOMINGTON — A long-time Indiana University employee faces felony charges after she allegedly pulled out a laser-sighted revolver and aimed it at a group of bicyclists, including a teenager, at a Bloomington intersection.
Lois Hugentober, 67, of Bloomfield, who also goes by Lois Watson, was arrested Monday following the incident. She has been charged with two counts of Level 5 felony intimidation and two counts of Class A misdemeanor pointing a firearm
According to court documents, the confrontation unfolded at the intersection of East 2nd Street and College Avenue. A group of bicyclists, which included a 17-year-old, was waiting behind Hugentober’s SUV at a red light.
When the light turned green, Hugentober reportedly began pulling forward but abruptly stopped. Investigators say she then climbed out of her vehicle, brandishing a revolver.
The victims told police that Hugentober aimed the weapon’s laser sight directly at and on them, forcing the group to scatter and flee the area in fear.
Multiple witnesses, including a dump truck driver who was at the intersection, corroborated the cyclists’ version of events. The truck driver explicitly noted to responding officers that the bicyclists “had not been causing any issue” before the confrontation.
Witnesses were able to capture Hugentober’s license plate number, allowing authorities to track her to the IU Auxiliary Services Administration building, where she has been employed for over 30 years.
When police confronted Hugentober at her workplace, court documents state she became “very agitated.” She claimed she acted out of fear for her safety, alleging that the cyclists had “surrounded her.” However, officers informed her that her account did not match the statements provided by witnesses.
During the interaction with police, Hugentober reportedly punched a wall in her supervisor’s office with enough force to knock a clock off the wall.
Officers discovered a Luger .22-caliber handgun inside Hugentober’s purse, which was subsequently seized and booked into evidence.
Online court records indicate that Hugentober posted a $500 cash bond on Thursday. Her initial hearing is scheduled for today, Friday.
