Pair of Mexican nationals sought in 11 Thurston heroin cases flee

Two alleged runners for a Mexican drug-trafficking organization are thought to have fled Thurston County after allegedly delivering more than 3 ounces of heroin during controlled buys. Alfredo Santos Bautista, 29, formerly of Littlerock Road in Tumwater, was charged Thursday in Superior Court with eight counts of unlawful delivery of heroin. A warrant has been issued for his arrest. The Olympian is not naming his alleged accomplice because she hasn’t been charged. “Both defendants became aware of the investigation and fled their residences for parts unknown,” court papers state. “In addition, both defendants are apparently illegally in the country and are Mexican nationals.” Also according to court papers: The Thurston County Narcotics Task Force’s investigation began in February, after a confidential source in Mason County told detectives that he or she “was able to buy heroin from a Mexican drug trafficking organization.” In March, task force detectives seized a cellphone in Lakewood used by a “dispatcher” for the organization. Detectives used the phone to arrange drug buys in Thurston County, leading to at least five arrests of people who tried to buy heroin. Beginning in February, narcotics detectives arranged controlled buys using the confidential source, who wore a body wire to buy heroin from Bautista and his accomplice. The buys occurred on Olympia’s west side, in parking lots at Red Robin, Goodwill, Petco and Walgreens. Detectives identified Bautista by taking his photograph during the controlled buys and identified his residence by conducting surveillance and obtaining his driver’s license photo from the Department of Licensing. Detectives conducted 11 controlled buys involving Bautista and his accomplice. Law enforcement officials have said that heroin use, as well as property crimes associated with it, have been in the rise in Thurston County over the past six months.