Joshua J. Schwartz is placed on unpaid leave.

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A teacher at St. Ambrose Catholic School was arrested in connection with a marijuana growing operation late last month, Tucson police said Tuesday.

Joshua J. Schwartz, 30, was employed as a language arts teacher for sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders, but has since been placed on unpaid administrative leave, according to a letter sent home to parents Tuesday. His arrest stems from an incident Oct. 25 when police searched a house in the 3300 block of South Mead Avenue, near East Stella and South Pantano roads, in response to a report of a burglary in progress, according to a news release.

When officers arrived, they found the back door open, so they entered to search for suspects or victims, the release said. No one was inside the residence, but police did find evidence of "illegal marijuana cultivation."

As officers searched the house, Schwartz arrived, and he was taken into custody on suspicion of unlawful possession of marijuana for sale and unlawful possession of narcotic paraphernalia. He was booked into Pima County jail and released the next day on bail.

Schwartz was hired by the school in August, according to Sgt. Fabian Pacheco, a Tucson Police Department spokesman.

After he was indicted, Schwartz was placed on unpaid leave, the school's principal, Leslie Shultz-Crist, said.

"Let me assure you that ... our student body has never been in any danger, nor has any inappropriate behavior taken place on our campus," she said.