Corrections officer pointed gun at renter in dispute, police say
An Orange County corrections officer was arrested by police Wednesday, accused of pointing a gun at a renter during an argument at her home in June, an arrest report states.
Laura Hindman, 49, faces a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, records show.
According to the arrest report, the victim rented a room in Hindman’s Altamonte Springs home after she listed it on Craigslist.
The tenant moved in June 6, and said Hindman became upset at him the following month when he couldn’t pay his rent in full.
The discord escalated to violence on an evening in late July, the renter told investigators.
He told police Hindman was drinking wine and complaining about her job that night and talking about her plans to start a business, when he made a comment that upset her.
The renter said Hindman walked into her room, returned with a pistol and pointed it at him, the arrest report states.
Both the renter and a friend present that night described Hindman “muttering ” as she held him at gunpoint, according to the report.
The renter said he responded by walking into his bedroom with his hands up.
His friend said Hindman began to cry and fell to the ground, dropping the gun.
The Orange County Corrections Department is conducting an internal affairs investigation, agency spokeswoman Carrie Proudfit said Wednesday.
“Hindman, a correctional offi- cer, was placed on paid administrative leave Tuesday pending the outcome of the criminal as well as internal investigation,” Proudfit said. “She has been with the agency since 2007.”
Proudfit added in an email that Hindman “was not in a capacity which supervised inmates at the time the investigation launched.”
“A pending internal affairs investigation prohibits OCCD from releasing further information regarding the matter,” she said.