Two Austin residents arrested after police allegedly found marijuana growing operations in their homes are facing felony charges in Mower County District Court.

Police made the arrests while  investigating a report of gunfire in the area at the time.

Matthew James Klein, 39, and Carrie Ann Iverson, 36, were each charged Tuesday with two counts of felony fifth-degree drug possession.

Klein was also charged with  felony fifth-degree drug sales.

Iverson pleaded not guilty.

According to the court report, an officer was dispatched at 10:33 a.m. on Sunday to a home in the 1000 block of 11th Avenue Southwest to investigate a report of shots fired. He learned the incident happened around midnight, but the residents of the home were not fluent in English and did not report it at the time it happened.

The officer then interviewed neighbors. During that time, Klein parked his 2004 Saturn in front of a home in the 900 block of 11th Avenue Southwest. Klein spoke to the officer and said he was buying the house and was not aware of any shooting.

A juvenile approached the officer and said he and a sibling saw a white Ford Explorer drive slowly past the previous night and a  passenger fired several shots. When shown where it happened, the officer saw shell casings in the area.

As Klein was leaving the house in the 900 block, the officer saw bullet holes in the house. Two were to the left side of the front door and one beneath.

Klein seemed surprised when the officer pointed them out.

Klein said he would need to get his dog out of the house before officers could go in to look around. He added that  he would go get his girlfriend (Iverson) so they could get the dog “figured out.”

Officers continued to speak to neighbors when Klein and Iverson arrived back at the house and started entering the side door. An officer told them they needed to stay out until the officers had a chance to collect evidence, but Klein said he was going to go in to get the dog.

After five minutes, they had not come out of the house and the officers grew suspicious. They knocked on the side door, but got no answer.

One officer opened the door and yelled for Klein, who came to the door. The officer detected a strong odor of marijuana and told Klein to step outside.

Klein’s shirt was wet and marijuana leaves were sticking to it. Klein was informed that officers believed there was a marijuana grow operation inside and he was detained in a squad car.

There was no dog in the residence.

A detective arrived and interviewed Iverson. She said Klein was her boyfriend and was in the process of moving into her residence in the 200 block of South Main Street and had been at her residence the previous night. Klein had gone to the 900 block residence to check on the house that morning. This was followed by a “frantic” call from him in which he said the house had been “shot up” and that he needed her immediately. He told her to park “around back.”

Iverson told the detective she went into the house with him, but came out when told to by the police.

Iverson had a 10-month-old child with her and was released from the scene.

Police executed a search warrant at the residence in the 900 block of 11th Avenue Southwest. They found and seized wireless cameras, computer equipment, pots containing growing media and single stalks that appeared to have been freshly cut, reflective tarp with lights, a fan and a carbon filter. They also discovered two more bullet holes; one in the wood front steps and one that had grazed the side of a tree in the front yard.

Police also executed a search warrant at Iverson’s residence in the 200 block of South Main Street. They found and seized recently harvested marijuana plants, approximately 561 grams of marijuana buds and leaves, approximately 157 grams of marijuana wax, a large marijuana grinder and marijuana growing equipment.

Iverson was arrested, but denied knowledge of the marijuana at her residence.

During an interview, Klein told a detective that he had been moving plants to Iverson’s residence after he heard the house had been shot. He said he had two trips to go when he ran into the police outside the residence. Klein said he sold marijuana to “middle class” people who did not get in trouble and did not know why the house was shot at. He also said Iverson was aware he used marijuana and that he harvested drying plants in the basement of her residence.

Klein is scheduled to appear in court again on Sept. 28.

Iverson’s pre-trial is scheduled for Dec.29.