About 55 plants were confiscated after a deputy's nose alerted him to a grow house.

Chad and Natalie Oswalt, both 35, were arrested and charged with first-degree possession of marijuana, a felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor, after marijuana was found in their home on June 4.

Deputy Mike Doss responded to a complaint on 75 Pin Oak Lane after receiving a call from the Oswalts’ neighbor.

Chief Investigator Joe Sweatt said the Oswalts and their neighbors constantly filed complaints against each other.

When Doss arrived at the house, he smelled an illegal substance, marijuana.

When asked what the smell was, Natalie broke down and said it was marijuana.

She gave Doss permission to search the house, so he called Investigator Rick Oliver, Deputy Mike Jennings and Deputy Misty Bice.

“This is another example of the professional way Deputy Doss went beyond just answering a call,” said Oliver, who serves as narcotics investigator with the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Deparment.

The Sheriff’s Deparment found marijuana in the master bathroom and the basement, where there were two cabinets, grow lights and a drying cabinet.

As of press time, Sweatt said the marijuana plants currently are stored in a safe drying before going to forensics. The Sheriff’s Deparment said there are about 55 plants.

Oliver said Natalie was arrested that night, and her husband was arrested when he got in town on June 8.

“Usually, we don’t find this many plants in one location,” Oliver said. “It was a pretty elaborate grow operation.”

Their court date will be July 7.