Suspected Drug Dealers Busted in Springtown

A Livermore couple with prior drug convictions landed back in jail this week after a probationary search of their Springtown home turned up narcotics, cash and evidence of drug dealing, police said.

Aaron Autler, 25, and Holly Andrus, 23, have plea proceedings scheduled at 2 p.m. Monday in Dept. 701 of the Gail-Schenone Hall of Justice in Pleasanton. They face charges of drug and paraphernalia possession and possession with intent to sell, according to court records.

The bust occurred Tuesday when an officer on patrol saw a female in her front yard who had been involved in a domestic-violence situation earlier in the week, said Sgt. Brian Martinez of the .

The unidentified woman lives at the same address as Autler and Andrus in the 1200 block of Hibiscus Way, Martinez said.

While stopping to check on the woman, the officer spotted Autler, who ran from the front yard into the house when he saw the police car, Martinez said.

The officer, who was familiar with Autler's arrest history and probation status, called for backup to search the home.

Evidence confiscated by police included a variety of prescription pain pills, including morphine, a small amount of methamphetamine, drug-paraphernalia pipes, digital scales and the type of plastic bags often linked to drug sales and cash, he said.

Martinez would not disclose the dollar amount but called the cash take "significant."  

The confiscated items belonged to Andrus and Autler, he said. Their female roommate, the domestic-violence victim whom the officer initially stopped to see, was not implicated in the drug bust, he added.   

Andrus and Autler also were charged with one count apiece of possessing pepper spray — a probation violation.

Court records show that Andrus had been arrested in Dublin in May 2010 on drug charges.

Autler has a Livermore arrest record from July 2010 for several drug and driving violations.

Along with pressing the new charges, prosecutors were seeking to revoke the couple's probation at Thursday's court hearing, according to records. 

The pair are being held at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin with bail set at $55,000 each, records state.