WATERLOO -- A physician arrested Tuesday after narcotics officers found pounds of methamphetamine in his home is still eligible to practice medicine if he is released from jail.

Dr. Mark Joseph Louviere, 50, 343 Four Seasons Drive, faces charges of possession of meth with intent to deliver, possession of meth with intent to deliver while in possession of a firearm and violation of the drug tax stamp act. Louviere is being held at the Black Hawk County Jail on a $1.6 million bond.

Law enforcement officers said the drugs were valued at around $950,000.

Louviere, who received his medical license in 1983, has focused on family practice over the years, according to the state Board of Medical Examiners. Though he is facing criminal charges, he is legally eligible to continue practicing medicine if he is released from jail, said Kent Nebel, legal director for the examiners board.

An emergency order can be issued, however, revoking his license if the board finds cause. Such an action is usually prompted by "very, very serious" actions such as gross medical misconduct or serious criminal misconduct, Nebel said. The board hasn't initiated any formal action against Louviere, though, he said.

The last time the examiners board issued an emergency order was April 20, 2005, when police arrested another doctor for illegally selling drugs out of his office.

If the board decides to take action, a decision could be announced in days, Nebel said. A formal investigation into whether Louviere's license would be permanently revoked could take place later, he said.

That wouldn't be Louviere's first run-in with the state board. In 1995, Louviere was required to pay a $4,000 civil penalty and received a formal reprimand after he admitted to doctoring medical records, according to state medical investigations records.

He admitted to deleting information another doctor made on a patient's medical record without noting the modification in June 1991, records state.

Court records state officers with the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force found meth and several firearms at Louviere's home Tuesday. They then searched a neighbor's Louviere had been taking care of and found a duffel bag with more than 11 pounds of meth packaged for sale and other items belonging to Louviere.

Police said the owner of the second house wasn't aware drugs were stored there and no charges are pending against him.

Contact Josh Nelson at (319) 291-1565 or josh.nelson@wcfcourier.com.