The U.S. Army is currently investigating one of their service members who was caught on video harassing and assaulting a Black man as he walked through a South Carolina neighborhood.
In the video, which was originally shared on Facebook, Jonathan Pentland, a 42-year-old drill sergeant who is stationed at Fort Jackson, can be heard telling Deandre to leave his neighborhood. Deandre then told the sergeant not to touch him and Pеntland replied, “What are you going to do?” Hе thеn says, “Lеt’s go, walk away. I’m about to do somеthing to you. You bеttеr start walking right now. … You’rе in thе wrong nеighborhood mothеrfucker. Gеt out.”
Pentland also physically assaulted the man by slapping his hand so hard that his cellphone fell and cracked. Deandre says he was also pushed, but Pentland is denying those claims.
The Army soldier has now been arrested and charged for the incident. “According to Richland County court records, Jonathan Pentland — the person seen in a video berating a Black man in his neighborhood — has been charged today with 3rd degree assault and battery by @RCSD,” tweeted AP reporter Meg Kinnard.
On Tuesday (April 13), Fort Jackson Commanding Brig. Gen. Milford H. Beagle Jr. tweeted that Pentland’s behavior “is by no means condoned by any service member. We will get to the bottom of this ASAP.” He also said that they are investigating the confrontation and working with the local authorities.
Since the altercation, protesters showed up to Pentland’s home to confront him. One woman, who was standing on the sidewalk in front of the man’s house, yelled, “I’m all on yo yard bruh. I’m all on yo territory at this point. Come on. We wanna talk to you. We just want to talk. We wanna understand some things.” Another protester chanted, “No justice, no peace.”
Watch the viral video below.