2 Men Arrested for Invading a Home, Man at Invaded Home Arrested for Growing Pot

WORCESTER, MA—A Grafton man and a Wilmington man are facing charges after a home invasion occurred on Brightwood Ave. in Worcester on Sunday evening. A man living at the home that was invaded ended up facing charges after police found a sophisticated marijuana growing system inside.

On July 24 at 7:17 p.m., Worcester police reported to a Brightwood Ave address for a report of a breaking and entering in progress. Witnesses detained the suspects at the scene, police were told before they arrived.

Police found two males (later identified as Joseph Todisco, 20, Orchid Street, South Grafton and Joseph Pineau, 19, Roosevelt Road, Wilmington) being detained on scene by witnesses.

A 16-year-old male on the scene told police that he was home alone in the first floor apartment of the residence when he heard a loud bang coming from the third floor apartment. Moments later, the 25-year-old male resident of the third floor came downstairs and informed told the teen that the third floor apartment door had been kicked in. The 16-year-old said he saw Todisco and Pineau flee from the back of the residence wearing red material covering their faces, said police.

The teen called his mother to tell her what happened, and approximately a half hour after the initial break, he spotted Todisco and Pineau return to the address and enter through the rear of the building. Immediately following the return of the two suspects, the 16 year old’s mother along with two adult males arrived at the address. As they arrived, Todisco and Pineau attempted to flee out the back door of the apartment building, and two adult men were able to chase them and detain them. Two adult male witnesses were able to chase the two suspects and detain them. One of the male witnesses recovered what he initially believed to be a firearm from Todisco, said police.

Police recovered two bags of marijuana from Todisco. They also observed a red bandana on the ground next to where Todisco was being detained, and wrapped in it was a realistic looking revolver style BB gun.

Police then spoke with the 25 year old victim and resident of the third floor apartment. The victim gave conflicting accounts to police of what occurred at the address. Police noted that the rear door to the third floor apartment had been kicked in. They also found a sophisticated marijuana grow operation in the third floor apartment. The apartment was secured and a search warrant was applied for and granted. As a result of the search, police recovered several pounds of packaged marijuana, grow lights, marijuana processing material, and numerous marijuana plants in various stages of growth.

As a result of the search, the 25 year old victim of the home invasion was arrested and charged with Manufacturing a Class D Substance.

Joseph Pineau was arrested and charged with Armed Home Invasion and Malicious Destruction of Property over $250. Joseph Todisco was arrested and charged with Armed Home Invasion, Carrying a Dangerous Weapon, and Malicious Destruction of Property over $250.