Police officer caught with UG lab in his apartment.

A Friday raid by the Porter County Drug Task Force points to possible drug charges against a Lake County Sheriff’s Police officer. According to the search warrant filed June 8, Task Force agents found a laboratory in the apartment in the 3300 block of Reserve Drive in Portage that could be used to manufacture anabolic steroids. Police also found many hypodermic needles. The apartment belongs to Gary Pilipovich Jr., 29, the search warrant states. A spokesman for the Lake County Sheriff’s Department stated by email Wednesday: “Gary Pilipovich is a patrolman with our department.” The spokesman did not respond to questions about Pilipovich’s status with the department. The Porter County Prosecutor’s Office hasn’t filed charges, but the warrant lists three possible charges in connection with the search: Possession of Schedule III controlled substances, manufacturing of a controlled substance and possession of hypodermic needles. A possession charge could be a Class B felony, which carries a sentence of six to 20 years. Porter County Prosecutor Brian Gensel on Tuesday declined to confirm that the raid happened or whether charges were expected. He said he does not discuss cases under investigation. Police were alerted to the alleged laboratory by the management of Willow Creek Estates apartments. Pilipovich complained to management about mold in his apartment, and when a manager went into the apartment to check it out, that person “discovered vials, a burner, chemistry equipment, cooking implements, hypodermic needles and a nitrous oxide tank,” the warrant states. There were also numerous books on the use and manufacturing of steroids, and the manager took photos before calling police. Police also found a jar of l-lysine, an amino acid used to make anabolic steroids. Records also show a suit to evict Pilipovich filed Monday in Porter County Superior Judge Jeffrey Thode’s court. An ejection hearing is set for July 2 and a damages hearing set for Aug. 13.