Former Albert Lea firefighter and part-time New Richland police officer Alan Nielsen was charged in Freeborn County District Court Monday with third-degree burglary and fifth-degree possession of methamphetamine. After law enforcement officials searched Nielsen’s house Tuesday as part of an investigation, more charges are expected to be filed later this week.

Corey Farris, the South Central Drug Task Force officer with the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office, said Nielsen, 32, has been investigated for meth manufacturing and sale of meth, along with a burglary.

At 12:30 a.m. Sunday, a Freeborn County sheriff’s deputy pulled Nielsen over because of the suspicion into a burglary, Farris said.

Two meth pipes and a bag with meth residue on it were in plain view on the floor of the vehicle and Nielsen and his passenger, Trevor Hovlund, were arrested and brought into the Freeborn County Government Center, he said.

Nielsen was charged Monday with the burglary and possession charges, and Hovlund was released without charges because of evidence of the crime, Farris said.

Following this, Farris and Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office deputies continued the investigation and obtained a search warrant for Nielsen’s property south of Albert Lea.

During the search at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, they found two stolen ATV four wheelers — one from Leland, Iowa, and the other from St. Ansgar, Iowa — along with materials related to meth manufacturing, including remnants of a gas generator.

The Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office filed charges on Nielsen for these discoveries, and the file is awaiting review by the Freeborn County Attorney.

Nielsen was released from jail on conditions of the court.