Police shoot man to death during raid of suspected meth lab
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Posted 6:55PM on Tuesday, December 17, 2002
METTER - Police in Metter say they shot and killed a man Tuesday. <br>
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Police say they found a half-pound of methamphetamine stored in an eleven-month-old boy's room while serving a search warrant on a suspected drug lab. <br>
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Authorities say 49-nine-year-old Ralph Wiley Futch brandished a Tech Nine semiautomatic pistol and was shot by Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents when he refused to drop the weapon. <br>
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The shooting occurred around 6:45 a.m. Futch died later at Candler County Hospital. <br>
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Two other adults and their 11-month-old grandson were in another part of the home at the time of the shooting. <br>
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Investigators say they found three pounds of methamphetamine during a search of the home. A half-pound of that was found in the child's room. <br>
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Police say an active methamphetamine lab was located in a 24-foot travel trailer parked 25 yards from the home. <br>
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The two adults in the home -- 43-year-old Ronald Futch Senior and his 37-year-old wife, Lisa Futch -- were charged with trafficking in methamphetamine and taken to the Candler County Jail. Ronald Futch is the brother of the man who was killed. <br>
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The couple's grandchild was placed in state custody. <br>
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The shooting was under investigation. The district attorney is reviewing the case.