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A US Army soldier charged with assaulting a black man outside his South Carolina home for being “in the wrong neighborhood” has been suspended from his instructor duties by authorities at Fort Jackson.
Jonathan Pentland, 42, whose assault on the black man on Monday went viral, was charged with third-degree assault and battery in the incident which sparked Black Lives Matter protests at his doorstep.
Fort Jackson, the U.S. Army’s largest basic training facility, wrote on Twitter Thursday evening that the Richland County Sheriff’s Department “transferred Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Pentland to Fort Jackson authorities late yesterday evening.”
“Pentland has been suspended from instructor duties pending the completion of the investigation and outcome of the criminal charges.”
“Soldier conduct on and off duty must be exemplary to retain the trust of our communities and our nation,” said Fort Jackson Commander Brig. Gen. Milford Beagle, through Fort Jackson’s official Twitter account. “Fort Jackson continues to work with and support Sheriff Lott, our local law enforcement professionals, and community & civil leadership as this case moves forward.”
The Army officer and his family were caught on a cellphone video shot by a bystander harassing and threatening a young black man, named Deandre, who explained he was just taking a walk in the neighbourhood in Columbia, South Carolina.
Pentland, 42, shoves the victim as he yells at him: “You better start walking right now. You’re in the wrong neighborhood, m—–f—–. Get out!”
The victim protests, saying he did nothing wrong, and is followed by the suspect who continues berating him.
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