A husband and wife were arrested Thursday morning for growing marijuana at their home in Sturgis.

Herb and Nancy Ulrich were arrested after authorities found they were growing a large number of marijuana plants in the backyard of their residence at 3226 Vanocker Drive.

The Sturgis Police Department, Meade County Sheriff's Office and U.S. Marshals Office served a search warrant on the Ulrichs' home after receiving an anonymous call from a citizen and found the marijuana plants and other illegal items.

Branden Bestgen, assistant Sturgis police chief, said several plants were also growing in a greenhouse at the home.

"The plants have all been removed," Bestgen said. "They will be held for evidence and safely destroyed at a later date."

Bestgen said the Ulrichs were more than likely planning to sell the marijuana, if they had not already.

There were at least 15 large marijuana plants seized along with other items including packaged marijuana, a sawed-off shotgun and marijuana-cultivating tools.

Bestgen said he is not sure if the Ulrichs had already sold marijuana or if this bust will mean a major source of marijuana has been cut off in Sturgis.

"That's hard to assume, but it's definitely good to at least get this portion of it off the street," he said.

He said the Ulrichs likely will be charged with felony distribution, among other charges.

The Meade County State's Attorney's office had no information available Thursday about the charges.

Sturgis Police Chief Jim Bush said the seizure is a prime example of citizen and police cooperation because police were tipped off about the marijuana by an anonymous report.

Bush also said that in his 30 years in law enforcement, he has never seen this many plants seized at one time in Sturgis.

The Ulrichs are in custody in Meade County Jail.

Contact Katie Brown at 394-8318 or katie.brown@rapidcityjournal.com