Authorities are continuing the investigation and whether criminal charges will be filed after a Myrtle Point woman was killed in a dog attack in her apartment on Friday. 42-year-old Amber Dawn LaBelle died from injuries sustained after she was Life-flighted to Riverbend Hospital. District Attorney Paul Frasier said the Pitbull/American Bulldog mix was reportedly shot and killed when the first police officer arrived on scene and rendered aid. Frasier says for an unknown reason, the 120-pound dog was placed in the care and custody of Labelle’s associate Jeremy Robertson who had stayed there the night before. The dog was owned by Sara Nicholes of Springfield.
Robertson, who left to run errands before the attack, had reportedly secured the dog in a room at LaBelle’s Spruce Street apartment. According to the report, LaBelle’s ex-husband dropped of the couples’ two minor children. At around 10:00 am LaBelle opened the door and was attacked by the dog. One of the children was able to get help from neighbors. One pulled the dog off LaBelle while the other dragged her away. Authorities are trying to determine why the dog was in Coos County. They also indicated the dog may have been involved in an attack on two minor children in Springfield. Anyone with information should contact the Myrtle Point Police Department. Following the investigation, Frasier says he’ll present the case to the Grand Jury to determine if criminal charges will be filed.