Search for Cedartown Man Ends in Tragedy

A Cedartown man experiencing a mental episode killed himself Friday evening after police were searching for him off Riverside Parkway, according to police.

Assistant Police Chief Rodney Bailey confirmed that Ryan Scott McCrickard shot himself as police and GSP were searching for him near the area of the ECO Center off Riverside Parkway.

A couple hours earlier, police had shut down a part of Riverside Parkway and alerted the public that they were keeping the area safe and to report any suspicious activities.

McCrickard had posted to his social media page that he was hiding from an organized crime group that wanted to kill him and posted “I will kill myself before I allow them to take me.”

He then posted at least five live videos showing he was hiding in the bushes and posted his location.

A GSP helicopter was brought in to help in the search. As police were closing in on his location, McCrickard shot himself.