Nahant ex-state cop arraigned on multiple drug charges

NAHANT – A former state police officer was released on $2,000 cash bail after being arraigned on multiple drug charges in Lynn District Court on Thursday.Marvin McKinnon, 49, 16B Seabreeze Lane, Nahant entered an innocent plea to charges of possession with intent to distribute a Class D substance, possession of a Class D substance and cultivation of marijuana.McKinnon is scheduled to appear in court on June 29 for a pretrial hearing.Nahant Lt. Thomas Hutton said McKinnon is a former state trooper and the arrest followed a lengthy investigation that got underway after police received a tip from concerned residents that McKinnon was dealing drugs. According to police, neighbors reported smelling a strong odor of marijuana coming from his apartment and noticed many people coming and going.Hutton said police recovered more than 20 pounds of marijuana and marijuana plants from McKinnon’s apartment.According to Nahant police officers involved in execution of the search warrant, no firearms were found at the home but McKinnon was still in possession of official police identification.”He still has a couple of state police badges,” Hutton said. “The badges were found during the search and we notified the state police of that fact.”Massachusetts State Police Spokesman Michael Popovich said the policy of the state police is all badges and police issued equipment must be turned in when a trooper leaves the force.”Obviously if anyone is in possession of a police badge it is a concern,” he said. “If he was in possession of badges I assume it would be under investigation and we can not comment.”Popovich said McKinnon retired from the state police on Oct. 31, 2002 with an honorable discharge. According to published reports, McKinnon was administering road tests full time before he left the department and is currently collecting disability.