DONEGAL — State police Wednesday filed a misdemeanor drug case against a township couple stemming from a vice unit investigation last spring.

Gerard A. Slupe, 47, and Gina M. Slupe, 52, are both charged with possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.

Vice officers in April 2015 went to the Slupes’ home on Arrowhead Lane after getting a complaint about “drug activity” there, according to court documents.

Police asked Gerard Slupe for permission to search the house, but he refused.

Denied Slupe’s consent and without a warrant, police had to leave. However, while walking away, one of the officers noticed two opened garbage bags outside the house. On top of one bag, police said, was a syringe and a cotton Q-tip.

Police questioned Gerard Slupe about the finding.

“He indicated that he uses heroin and that there is drug paraphernalia inside the residence but nothing else,” a police affidavit said.

When officers told him they now were prepared to seek a search warrant, Slupe let them in the house and a van outside.

In the house police found one stamp bag and 17 empty bags of heroin, several syringes, a scale and other contraband. The garbage bag outside turned up six syringes.

From the van, police seized a bag of heroin and a syringe.