A man who claimed to have an AK-47, but was later found to be unarmed, is being charged with three misdemeanors, according to a document from the Monroe County Prosecutor’s office obtained through a request by the Bloomingtonian Wednesday.
Cecil Lamar Gilbert, who is listed as transient, is being charged with intimidation, a class a misdemeanor; criminal trespass, class a misdemeanor; and false informing, class b misdemeanor.
Police responded to the Biddle Hotel at the Indiana Memorial Union on the campus of Indiana University Monday night around 8:23 p.m. when Lamar was found to be in room 107, where he wasn’t a paying guest. Other guests at the hotel allegedly heard Lamar making threats.
According to a press release from IUPD Deputy Chief Shannon E. Bunger, “Officers arrived on the floor and proceeded to room 107. This room did not have any guests registered for the evening. When they arrived, they could hear at least one male voice from inside the room. One officer went by the door of the room and they could hear the male say, “Oh the cops are here.” The male then made a statement that he was not going to come out of the room and the cops were there to get him.”
“At this time, the officers backed up, and secured each end of the hallway. The officers continued to talk with the male and get him to come out of the room. Members from the Critical Incident Response Team and members of the Crisis Negotiations Team arrived on scene,” said Bunger.
According to Bloomington Police Department Capt. Ryan Pedigo, “IUPD stated that a man had barricaded himself inside an unsecured guest room at the Memorial Union and was claiming to have family held hostage inside the room. Further, the man had reportedly advised officers that he was armed with an AK-47 rifle.”
Pedigo said CIRT responded with a hostage negotiation team.
“He again advised officers that he was armed with an “automatic weapon” and continued to make threats about using the weapon. Non-lethal techniques were eventually utilized at approximately 1:36 a.m. and the man then exited the room and was taken into custody without injury,” said Pedigo.
The room was then searched, and no weapons were found, according to Bunger.
