Southington police found a large indoor marijuana growing operation with more than 100 plants while investigating a report of an assault last month.
Police said they responded to Mount Vernon Road at 1:42 a.m. on April 12 to investigate after receiving a report of a man yelling in a driveway.
When police arrived, the person who filed the complaint said he left the house because he was afraid and that Matthew Dufresne, 46, of Bristol, was acting irrational and beating another man inside the house.
Inside the house, officers saw Dufresne beating the victim in the bathroom, then Dufresne began to attack the officers, police said, so they called more officers to the scene.
Police used stun guns, pepper spray, a police baton and a Police K-9 against Dufresne, but none of them had any affect, police said.
Officers were finally able to get Dufresne to the ground, handcuff him and take him into custody.
Dufresne and the victim were both transported to the hospital for treatment. One police officer reported an injury as a result of this incident and the Police K-9 was also checked for possible injuries.
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As officers were investigating the assault, they found a sophisticated indoor marijuana growing operation in the two residential homes on the property of 2164 Mount Vernon Road, according to police.
Southington Police Detectives from the Special Investigations Unit were called and responded to the scene to investigate further. Police said they seized several items, including 104 marijuana plants, in various states of growth; 6-and-a-half pounds of marijuana, ready for sale; as well as $3,165 in cash.
Police have charged Dufresne with cultivation of more than one kilogram of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to sell more than one kilogram, possession of more than 4 ounces of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond was set at $125,000.
Dufresne was charged with breach of peace in the second degree, interfering with police and two counts of assault on police in connection with the alleged assault.
Christian Kelley, 37, of Bristol, was charged with cultivation of more than one kilogram of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to sell more than one kilogram, possession of more than 4 ounces of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond was set at $150,000.
