Overdoses on potent drug mixture in Olympia kill one man

One man died in the spate of suspected injection drug overdoses in the span of 90 minutes Friday evening.

Charles Chenault, 27, was one of four men police believe encountered an especially potent mixture of heroin. The other three overdosed but survived, Olympia police Lt. Paul Lower told The Olympian.

Chenault was found dead in a tent near Percival Creek in west Olympia. One man was found near Yauger Park, while two more were found near the Intercity Transit center downtown, Lower said.

All four incidents took place between 4:30 and 6 p.m. Friday, The Olympian reported.

“The kicker is that when (dealers) sell heroin, they mix it with something to make it appear bigger,” he said.

After the overdoses, Olympia police warned social service agencies and homeless encampments downtown about the powerful drug, Lower said.

This story was originally published November 5, 2018 at 3:44 PM.