A white Army non-commissioned officer is facing third-degree assault charges.
A video went viral of Jonathan Pentland, 42, in Columbia, South Carolina, telling a Black man he’s in the “wrong neighborhood.” In the footage, Petland is bullying, shoving, and threatening the Black man. Petland yelled,
“You’re in the wrong neighborhood. I ain’t playing with you. I’m about to show you what I can do.” In another scene, Petland said, “I’m about to do something to you. You better start walking right now.”
It’s not clear what ignited the conflict, but in the video, Petland pushed the Black man hard and almost made him fall to the ground. The man remained calm while Petland and his wife were rude and obnoxious. Police arrived on the scene and only gave Pentland a citation for malicious injury to property for slapping the man’s phone out of his hand and cracking it.
Black Lives Matter demonstrators flooded the neighborhood, demanding justice. Jasmine James, who lives in the area, told the news she wanted to amplify her voice, “I wanted to make my voice heard, so people know this is not OK. We are simply trying to exist and be a part of America like everyone else.”
Petland faces a maximum fine of $500 and 30 days in jail.