Police Confiscate Over 100 Marijuana Plants Growing in Ayer Street Home

A domestic incident turned into a sizable drug bust and an arrest Friday afternoon when Peabody police discovered more than 100 marijuana plants growing throughout a two-family home on Ayer Street.

Police said bedrooms had been converted into a "sophisticated environment to cultivate marijuana" and fertilizers, specialized lighting fixtures and an intricate irrigation system were also confiscated along with about 165 plants in various stages of growth.

Department spokesman Detective Michael Crane issued a press statement, saying officers were executing a search warrant at the home shortly before 4 p.m. Friday in the course of an investigation that started with a domestic disturbance.

According to a police log entry, various city inspectors (building, electrical, light) were also called to the scene.

David Antonuccio, 35, of Peabody was subsequently arrested on charges of domestic assault and battery, assault with a dangerous weapon and malicious destruction of property, in relation to the domestic incident.

Crane said no charges were filed yet against anyone for the drug operation, and there was no indication whether the disturbance was related to that or why police had obtained a search warrant.

"Law enforcement agencies throughout the country have experienced an increase in dealing with these problematic 'grows,' possibly due to the decriminalization of possessing an ounce or less of the drug. However any cultivation and distribution still carry criminal penalties and monetary fines," Crane said.

He said Peabody narcotics detectives David Murphy and Eric Ricci are leading the ongoing investigation, assisted by Patrolman Daniel Jenkins. The state police crime scene unit assisted with processing the scene.

Ayer Street is a side street off Washington Street and not far from the Salem line.

Some amount of personal cultivation is now allowed under the new state law to legalize medical marijuana in Massachusetts, but that's a provision for individuals with medical conditions that would prevent them from patronizing a dispensary, and there aren't any dispensaries yet.