Carrollton mayor pro tem says he was threatened at park

CARROLL COUNTY, Ga. — A local leader says someone harassed him while he was walking in a park.

Carrollton Mayor Pro Tem Gerald Byrd said he was out at Lake Carroll on Wednesday to pick up pine cones for an art project.

He runs a nonprofit that uses art to reach Alzheimer’s patients and the community’s children.

He said an unknown man approached him and threatened him.

“I said, ‘I have a bag in the car. I can get the bag out and you can help me pick up these pine cones. They’re for a group of disadvantaged kids.’ And he said, ‘OK I’ll help you out. I have a bag in my car for you,’” Byrd said.

Byrd, Carrollton’s longest-tenured City Council member, said the man didn’t think he belonged in the park and his threats were racially motivated.

“Then he said, ‘My wife is coming and she has something for you, too.’ Up comes his wife with a German shepherd and I’m too far from my car to run and I’m petrified,” Byrd said.

Following the encounter, Byrd got emotional while telling the story on Facebook Live.

He said there was a small amount of backlash from his post.

“I’ve probably had about eight death threats and I’ve had people inform me that I better buy a gun,” he said.

Byrd said he’s also gotten plenty of support. People have been leaving pine cones on his doorstep.

“I think it’s good for people to know that it does exist and it’s something that a lot of people of color have to go through every single day,” he said.

Channel 2’s Carl Willis spoke to the police chief, who said his detectives want to speak with the man accused of making the threats.

Byrd said he doesn’t want to press charges, but wants anyone else who may have been intimidated at the park to report it to police.

Cox Media Group