Attorney representing Libby woman shot by law enforcement bows out

A Libby woman shot by law enforcement last fall and charged with two felonies following a noise complaint is in need of legal representation.

Andrea Dawn Daugs, 45, is accused of two felony counts of assault with a weapon and one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.

Before her release Nov. 25, 2024, Daugs was lodged in the Lincoln County Detention Center on $50,000 bail.

Daugs was being represented by Gary A. Crowe since May 5.

But in a July 17 motion to withdraw as her counsel, Crowe wrote that the attorney/client relationship had deteriorated to the point that adequate representation cannot be provided.

Crowe cited a lack of cooperation, lack of communication, following directions, not attending appointments and not approving the release of medical information that he needed to represent her.

In a July 21 pre-trial hearing, District Judge Matt Cuffe continued Daugs’ hearing and said a new attorney would have to be appointed to represent her.

According to the charging document filed by county Deputy Attorney Jeffrey Zwang, county deputies Joshua Brabo and Chris Pape were called to a residence on Timber Lane at about 4 a.m. Sept. 4, 2024, for a noise complaint.

The deputies knocked on the door and announced their presence in an attempt to speak to someone about the noise. After a short time, Daugs answered the door, completely nude, the complaint said. She quickly shut the door. Eventually, she spoke to deputies through a window and refused to come to the door. 

Both deputies saw Daugs point the barrel of a rifle out of a window. They ordered her to put the weapon down multiple times while she allegedly kept yelling other names out of the window.

Daugs, according to the complaint, opened the door and stood in the doorway, holding the gun. The officers said she ignored multiple commands to put the gun down or point the barrel in a safe direction.

After getting no response from Daugs, deputy Brabo fired a shot from his duty weapon, striking Daugs in the hand, which caused her to drop the gun.

The officers secured the weapon and provided aid to her.

Daugs was taken into custody on Oct. 26. 

A conviction for assault with a weapon may result in a 20-year prison term. A conviction for disorderly conduct may result in a 10-day jail term.