Armed home invasion in Marshfield leads to discovery of marijuana growing operation

By John R. Ellement, Globe staff

An armed home invasion in Marshfield Tuesday night left one person pistol-whipped and resulted in the discovery of a large-scale marijuana growing operation being conducted in a rambling house in the South Shore community, authorities said.

Marshfield Police Captain Michael McDonough said officers were called to 105 Acorn St. around 11:30 p.m. after three men forced their way into the home, firing one shot from a handgun.

No one was struck by the gunfire, but one of the residents was pistol-whipped by an attacker. At the time of the home invasion, at least three people were inside the building, which town assessor records describe as a two-family home with five bedrooms.

McDonough said that once officers were inside, they discovered several pounds of marijuana packaged for sale, about $5,000 in cash, and equipment used to cultivate marijuana. He said police were unaware of any marijuana operation prior to responding to investigate the home invasion.

McDonough said that police using social media - he declined to be more specific - tracked down one of the three suspects and arrested him. Eddy Monteiro, 20, of Brockton was scheduled to be arraigned today in Plymouth District Court.

Monteiro is facing multiple charges, including three counts of kidnapping, three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and armed home invasion, McDonough said.

The victim who was pistol-whipped was taken by MedFlight to a Boston hospital with serious injuries. McDonough said he was a resident of the building.