Jonathan Pentland was arrested Wednesday morning, Sheriff Leon Lott said in a news conference. According to prison records, he was released from prison on the basis of a personal confessional.
“This is a very disturbing video. This is one that we are not going to tolerate in Richland County,” Lott told the news conference Wednesday.
The video, according to authorities, shows Pentland pushing, threatening and shouting at a young black man, did not capture the events that led to the confrontation or the full exchange of words between Pentland and the Blackman.
A concerned citizen, according to the sheriff’s department, called to report the incident, which took place Monday in the Summit area of Columbia, South Carolina.
Pentland is seen in the video pushing the young man shortly after Pentland told him, “You are attacking the area.”
“You walk away or I’m going to carry you a ** away here,” Pentland says.
“I did nothing,” replied the young man.
“I’m about to do something about you. You need to start walking better,” Pentland said in the video. ‘You’re in the wrong environment. * Go out.’
A female bystander can be heard addressing the young Swartman and saying he was in a dispute with one of their neighbors.
“All I heard was you fighting and she defending herself,” the woman said.
When asked about the events that led to the quarrel during Wednesday’s news conference, Lott declined to discuss the details. But he said: “There were a few other things that happened that did not justify the actions of the suspect.”
CNN could not reach Pentland or determine whether he was currently obtaining legal representation. CNN could not reach the young man in the video for comment.
After the video was stopped, Pentland pushed the victim again and “knocked the victim’s phone out of his hand,” according to the incident report. Pentland said it did so out of concern for his and his wife’s safety, the report said.
The sheriff’s department said two other incidents involving the young Swartman were reported to the delegates who responded to the confrontation between him and Pentland. The cases are being investigated independently, the department said.
According to incidents, one incident took place on April 8 and involved the young man allegedly touching a woman without permission. The second incident took place on April 10 and involved the young man allegedly going to pick up a baby without permission.
“The victim has an underlying medical condition that could explain the behavior in the alleged incidents,” the sheriff’s department said. “RCSD is providing the necessary assistance in an effort to distract him from the criminal justice system.”
It released a statement confirming that Pentland is currently stationed there and that it is being investigated by the Department of Justice.
“The leaders in Fort Jackson in no way approve of the behavior shown in the video that was recently posted.” Gen. Milford Beagle, Jr., said in the statement. He encouraged the community’s patience while the investigation takes place.
“I remain deeply concerned about the members of our military family, the young man and his family, and the tension that intensifies such activities over time. Please be patient as facts are determined,” Beagle said.
According to Beagle, Fort Jackson’s criminal investigation department and staff advocate work with the sheriff’s department and the justice department.
The sheriff’s department confirmed on Thursday that Pentland’s home was vandalized by ‘unknown protesters’ on Wednesday night.
It told CNN on Thursday that although the area was not cordoned off, Pentland and his family were “removed and taken to a safe place after the house was vandalized.”
Ellie Kauffman of CNN contributed to this report.