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The South Carolina soldier who was caught on video shoving and threatening a young black man for being “in the wrong neighborhood” is Jonathan Pentland, a high-ranking sergeant in the US Army and father of two, according to reports.


  Jonathan Pentland, a US Army staff sergeant, was charged with third-degree assault and battery after a video went viral depicting him accosting and shoving a black man in a South Carolina neighborhood. Facebook Jonathan Pentland, a US Army staff sergeant, was charged with third-degree assault and battery after a video went viral depicting him accosting and shoving a black man in a South Carolina neighborhood. Facebook

What is he accused of?

Cellphone video that has since gone viral shows the heated confrontation between Pentland and the unidentified victim in a subdivision in Columbia called The Lakes at Barony Place.


  A image showing Jonathan Pentland allegedly assaulting an unidentified black man. Facebook A image showing Jonathan Pentland allegedly assaulting an unidentified black man. Facebook

It shows Pentland, who is white, demanding the victim to leave the area, telling him, “You’re in the wrong neighborhood, motherf—er” and then threatening him with physical violence.

“You either walk away or I’m going to carry your ass out of here,” Pentland tells the younger man. “I ain’t playing with you. I’m about to show you what I can do.”


  Jonathan Pentland told the man he was “in the wrong neighborhood.” Facebook Jonathan Pentland told the man he was “in the wrong neighborhood.” Facebook

The three-minute clip doesn’t show what sparked the altercation.

Pentland was initially given a citation for malicious injury to property for allegedly slapping the man’s phone from his hand and causing it to shatter.


  Jonathan Pentland serving in the US Army. US Army Jonathan Pentland serving in the US Army. US Army

But on Wednesday, he was arrested and charged with third-degree assault.

Officials said the victim was not a minor but declined to identify him.

What is Pentland’s military background?

The 42-year-old is stationed at Fort Jackson, the Army’s biggest basic training facility in the country and located near Columbia.


  Jonathan Pentland serving in the military. US Army Jonathan Pentland serving in the military. US Army

Pentland was promoted to sergeant first class, a senior noncommissioned position, in April 2020 and has also worked as a drill sergeant at Fort Jackson, according to Facebook pages cited by Heavy.com before they were taken down.

He also spent time stationed at Fort Drum in New York and was part of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, according to its Facebook page.


  Jonathan Pentland during military training. US Army Jonathan Pentland during military training. US Army

The division on Wednesday posted a comment on a 2017 photo of Pentland in military garb, saying, “There is no place in the Army for extremist ideologies. We support the decision of the Fort Jackson Commanding General to look into this matter. This image will remain viewable to foster dialogue.”

Pentland’s military resume also includes a stint with the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division based at Fort Carson in Colorado.

Who is Pentland’s wife?

Pentland married Cassie Dalrymple in 2006, according to an online post announcing their engagement that year.


  Jonathan Pentland shown in a wedding announcement photo with his wife, Cassie Dawn Dalrymple.
 Jonathan Pentland shown in a wedding announcement photo with his wife, Cassie Dawn Dalrymple.

Cassie can be heard in the now-viral video, calling the victim an “aggressor” and accusing him of picking a “fight with some random young lady.”

Pentland’s since-deleted Facebook page said the couple have a young son and daughter.


  Jonathan Pentland’s booking photo, provided by the Richland County, SC, detention center. RCDC Jonathan Pentland’s booking photo, provided by the Richland County, SC, detention center. RCDC

They own a home in The Lakes at Barony Place subdivision, where the encounter happened.

Dozens of Black Lives Matter protesters demonstrated outside Pentland’s home Wednesday night.

What has the Army said about the incident?

The incident is under investigation by the US Department of Justice, Fort Jackson commander Brig. Gen. Milford Beagle Jr. said in a statement.


  Protesters gathered in a neighborhood in Columbia, South Carolina, on April 14 to demonstrate against Jonathan Pentland’s alleged actions. Alexis Sincere via Storyful Protesters gathered in a neighborhood in Columbia, South Carolina, on April 14 to demonstrate against Jonathan Pentland’s alleged actions. Alexis Sincere via Storyful

“The leaders at Fort Jackson in no way condone the behavior depicted in the video posted recently,” Beagle said. “This action deeply impacts our community … I ask that our communities and leaders exercise a degree of patience, affording Sheriff Lott and law enforcement investigators to account for the full measure of events before, during, and after the incident that was recorded.”

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