An Indiana University employee was arrested June 22 after allegedly pointing a firearm at three cyclists near Second Street and College Avenue, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Lois Hugentober, 67, faces two counts of intimidation with a deadly weapon as a Level 5 felony and two counts of pointing an unloaded firearm at another person, a misdemeanor. According to the affidavit, Hugentober works at IU’s Auxiliary Services Administration.
She worked as a financial administration coordinator and accounting assistant for IU as early as 2019, according to Open Payrolls.
On the morning of June 22, Bloomington Police Department officers responded to a report of a woman in an SUV pointing a firearm at three cyclists in the roadway near Second Street and College Avenue.
One of the cyclists told police that they had been riding their bikes and pulled up behind Hugentober at a red light. Once the light turned green, the cyclist said in the affidavit, Hugentober allegedly began driving but stopped in the intersection and started pointing a gun at the three cyclists.
In the affidavit, the cyclist described the firearm as having a laser to police, and cellphone footage he had taken of the incident shows what appears to be a revolver.
Another cyclist recalled the same interaction and said the laser from the gun pointed at one of the cyclists for about 20 seconds before they filmed her license plate. She then drove off, according to the affidavit.
A witness told officers he had seen the three males riding bikes in the area and that they had not been causing any issues prior to the incident, the affidavit stated. Another witness gave officers the license plate number, which was later used by BPD to identify Hugentober.
According to the affidavit, officers were able to identify her employment through investigation and located her vehicle in the parking lot of the IU Auxiliary Services Administration’s office the same day.
A BPD officer met with Hugentober inside, and she stated that she needed to let her supervisor know she would be taken to the police station.
The affidavit states Hugentober began talking about the incident on the way, explaining that she “was in fear for her safety,” after being surrounded by the cyclists. During these statements, the officer described Hugentober as agitated.
Police also found an unloaded firearm in her purse, later identified as a pistol, and took it into custody.
According to the affidavit, police transported Hugentober to the BPD, where she claimed one of the cyclists had bumped into her vehicle from behind. She also alleged another cyclist told her, “You better not get out of your car.”
Police told Hugentober that other witnesses described the incident differently. She claimed, “they weren’t good people,” and wanted the three cyclists charged with intimidating and harassing her, according to the affidavit.
Prior to booking the firearm as evidence, police noted it was unloaded, which Hugentober said she was unaware of.
Based on the witness statements and videos, Hugentober was placed under arrest and transported to the Monroe County Jail.
Hugentober posted a $500 cash bond and pleaded not guilty during her initial hearing June 26, according to online court records. Her pretrial conference is now set for Aug. 12, with a jury trial scheduled for Dec. 14.
An IU spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment. It is unclear if Hugentober is still an IU employee.
