BUTLER TWP — Police uncovered a somewhat sophisticated marijuana growing operation in the basement of a home on High Street.

But the discovery Saturday was not planned and happened only after officers were called to the house for a domestic dispute.

It wasn't hard for officers to sniff out the case from there.

"It was very pungent in there," said Butler Township Police Chief Gary Garman. "It was hard for the officer to stay inside the house for long periods of time."

Several officers spent hours into Sunday morning confiscating evidence and equipment related to the alleged enterprise of John Thomas Zulik, Garman said.

Among the seized property were bags and jars of suspected marijuana and magic mushrooms, also called "shrooms," numerous marijuana plants in various stages of growth and several containers of marijuana seeds, according to court documents.

"There was some major production going on," Garman said. "This wasn't just for individual use, he was making it for sale."

Zulik was arrested on several drug-related charges. But the case is far from completed.

"We definitely plan to file more charges stemming from what we recovered from his home, and for the domestic that started all this," Garman said.

The investigation began about 5 p.m. Saturday when Zulik's girlfriend, Carrie Abraham, reported that the defendant had pushed her down during an argument at their home. Abraham had recently undergone back surgery, police said.

Some officers on their way to the house were detoured to Pickelgate Crossing, where Zulik had reportedly run.

He was stopped there and searched. Police found him carrying baggies of suspected marijuana and cocaine, a methadone tablet and more than a dozen other prescription pills, and drug paraphernalia, documents said.

The defendant also had an empty bottle of the powerful painkiller OxyContin, which had been prescribed to Abraham to treat her back.

Additionally, police found him with three bundles of currency totaling $992, according to documents.

During their investigation, police obtained a warrant and searched Zulik's home. In addition to the marijuana plants and seedlings, officers seized bags of fertilizer, containers of plant food, grow lights, drying boxes, fans and pots.

Zulik remains free after posting bail on $20,000 bond. He faces a preliminary hearing at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 19 before District Judge Kevin O'Donnell.