WHEELER COUNTY, Ga. — An inmate at the Wheeler County Correctional Facility died after an encounter with correctional officers early Sunday morning.

A release from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) said that at around 5:45 a.m. inmate Dustin Parham, 35, was exhibiting "erratic and combative behavior inside a dormitory."

They said that he had a "makeshift weapon, described as a metal poker made from wire fencing" near the dormitory. They also said that he was "exhibiting abnormal behavior."

Correctional officers had Parham in handcuffs "as he attempted to exit into the control area," the release said.

They said that multiple officers tried to gain control of Parham, but he continued to resist. The officers deployed pepper spray, the release said.

"While officers were attempti

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