BUFFALO TWP — Apolice officer answering a burglar alarm turned up a small in-door marijuana growing operation at a Hughes Drive home.

The middle-aged couple living at the home surrounded by middle-income families faces several drug-related charges.

District Judge Sue Haggerty on Monday arraigned Patricia Ruzkowski, 50, and her husband, Robert Kaniecki, 51, for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, conspiracy, and possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.

The defendants, free on recognizance bonds, face preliminary hearings April 9.

Aneighbor, just after 2 p.m. Dec. 13, called police after hearing the alarm coming from the defendant's home for 20 minutes and noticing a door wide open.

Township Patrolman Jason Sappe walked into the house after calling out for anyone inside but getting no response, according to court documents.

He checked the first and second floors and then went into the basement where he found grow lights over a pair of 3-foot tall marijuana plants.

"They were two nice big plants,"Sappe said Tuesday, "and all the lighting that was needed."

He saw timers, potting mix and fertilizer, a hand shovel and bucket, and a bag of seed starter. Sappe said he also found containers with marijuana seeds and two bags with a small amount of the illegal weed.

While Sappe was at the house, Ruzkowski arrived home. She told Sappe the marijuana was for her own personal use.

"Yeah, I believe her,"Sappe said. "She seemed sincere and was cooperative, remorseful and apologetic. She was upset about the whole situation."

Ruzkowski turned over other drug paraphernalia including a vaporizer-type device used to inhale marijuana. She also surrendered three rolled marijuana cigarettes and a small jar of "marijuana butter," a concoction made from cooking marijuana and butter together.

When Kaniecki came home, he turned over to police eight books on marijuana, documents said.

"They're kind of hippie types,"Sappe said, "or naturalists, I guess."

He called Ruzkowski a "heavy user"of marijuana, but believed Kaniecki did not consume the weed.

"Still, he knew what was going on in the basement and assisted his wife with it," the officer said.

While there were no signs to suggest the pot was being sold, Sappe said, under the law he had to charge the defendants with possession with intent to deliver "because of the growing aspect of the marijuana."

Neither Ruzkowski nor Kaniecki could be reached for comment.