Fort Jackson Officer Jonathan Pentland Arrested After Viral Confrontation With A Black Man

Jonathan Pentland, a white Army non-commissioned officer, has been charged with third-degree assault after he was seen in a viral video harassing a black man.

On Wednesday, Pentland was charged in Richland County Jail, South Carolina.

“You’re in the wrong neighborhood,” Pentland said in the viral Facebook video, posted Monday by Shirell Johnson. “I ain’t playing with you… I’m about to show you what I can do.”

While the video did not show or tell what started the conflict between the two, Pentland was seen constantly getting into the other man’s face, even shoving the man. The black man continuously stated that he was only walking around the neighborhood, not bothering anyone.

“Let’s go, walk away,” Pentland said to him. “I’m about to do something to you. You better start walking right now.”

A woman identified as Pentland’s wife was heard telling her husband that the black man was fighting with “some random young lady” before Pentland confronted him. The black man denied any fight.

When authorities arrived at the scene, Pentland was given a citation after he cracked the man’s phone after slamming it out of his hands.

Pentland has lived in Fort Green since 2019. The Fort’s Commanding Brig. Gen. Milford H. Beagle Jr. said in a statement that Army officials are investigating the incident “and are working with the local authorities.”