(La Porte, IN) - Police say a drug bust resulted from a welfare check of a man parked outside a La Porte convenience store.

Nicholas Conklin, 48, is charged in La Porte Circuit Court with Level 5 felony possession of methamphetamine and Class C misdemeanor possession of paraphernalia.

According to La Porte Police, an officer on October 26 was called to the Family Express at 1038 Indiana Ave. to conduct a welfare check of a man later identified as Conklin.

Police said he was in a truck parked outside the store and appeared to be “nodding off.”

While speaking with Conklin, police said a methamphetamine pipe was in plain view and a K-9 dog alerted to the possible presence of drugs in the vehicle. 

Police said a search of the vehicle turned up 5.4 grams of methamphetamine along with another glass smoking device.