Marijuana plants found in an apartment building at 106 Mechanic St. in Fayette while officers executed a search warrant on Christmas Day. (Courtesy: Fayette County Sheriff's Office)

Arrest warrants have been issued for two men after authorities found a marijuana grow operation in Fayette.

Acting on a tip, officials with the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa State Patrol located two separate marijuana grows at an apartment building at 106 Mechanic St. in the early-morning hours of Christmas Day. Jerek J. Bowe, 25, and Duke M. Ewan, 21, both of Fayette, are now wanted on charges of manufacturing marijuana.

Authorities found numerous plants, equipment, chemicals and heat lamps inside the residence, according to a news release. Bowe and Ewan were not there when the search was conducted. Both young men are originally from Florida and are former Upper Iowa University football players, according to an archived team roster on the school’s website.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Bowe or Ewan are asked to call the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office at (563) 422-6067.