Published: October 26, 2009 10:22 pm      

Suspect accused of meth making

Logan man held on Class A felony charges in Pulaski County.

WINAMAC — A man on parole for a meth-related offense has been charged with making the drug.

On Friday, Pulaski County Sheriff's Deputy Robert Zimmerman stopped a truck driven by 44-year-old Timothy J. Kopkey of Logansport for a window tint violation. The stop led to the alleged discovery of methamphetamine inside the vehicle and a clandestine meth lab inside a residence owned by Kopkey on North Falvey Street in Winamac.

While speaking with Kopkey, the officer became suspicious and called for the assistance of a police dog that reportedly detected the presence of narcotics inside the truck.

A search netted two types of legend drugs for which Kopkey did not have a valid prescription, according to a news release.

During a weapons search, Kopkey reportedly tried to conceal a plastic bag containing what police believe to be methamphetamine. Further investigation revealed more suspected methamphetamine inside a coffee cup that Kopkey had been holding throughout the traffic stop.

Officers developed information that Kopkey was making meth in Winamac and sought a search warrant from Pulaski Circuit Court. The subsequent search turned up a clandestine meth lab that had to be dismantled by the Indiana State Police Drug Lab Team.

Kopkey is being held in the Pulaski County Jail on numerous charges, including manufacture of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a youth program center, a Class A felony.

Kopkey is currently on parole through the Indiana Department of Correction on a conviction for manufacturing methamphetamine.

• Kevin Lilly is news editor of the Pharos-Tribune. He can be reached at 574-732-5117 or kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com.