Southington Man, Avon Woman Charged With Operating a Drug Factory

A Southington man and Avon woman were arrested recently after police executed a search warrant of the woman's home, which had been invaded by two men with guns in December.

Kayla M. McKinney, 19, of Avon, and Michael Gagnon, 18, of 842 Old Turnpike Road in Southington were at McKinney's home Thursday when Avon Police assisted by officers from Simsbury and Farmington, "found narcotics in plain view and stemming from the search of the residence," according to a press release from Avon police. 

Police arrested them on identical charges of failure to keep a drug in an original container, illegal manufacturing, distribution sale, or administration by a non-drug dependent person of over .5 ounces of crack cocaine, illegal manufacturing, sale, or distribution of heroin, operation of a drug factory, possession of less than four ounces of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of narcotics, sale of a controlled substance and tampering with physical evidence. 

The drug bust followed an ongoing investigation by Avon detectives. 

McKinney was also in her home in December when two armed men barged into the residence, ordering her and two others to the ground and demanded money. According to court documents, Michael Cyr and Alex Molon, the men police believe to be responsible, were also likely looking for drugs. Police arrested them in January and March, respectively, on home invasion and armed robbery charges. 

Gagnon is being held on $75,000 bond and is scheduled to appear July 22 in Hartford Court. 

Story by Jessie Sawyer originally appeared on Avon Patch.