
Jackson Arnold (Charleston County Sheriff’s Office).
A man from South Carolina reportedly decided to play a prank on his ex-girlfriend by breaking into her house and hiding in her bathroom shower with a knife while not wearing pants or underwear. Jackson Arnold, 25, attempted to surprise his ex-girlfriend after a text message argument, hoping to lighten the mood, as per the authorities.
Arnold was taken into custody and charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, first-degree burglary, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. The incident occurred at his ex’s home on Westway Drive in Charleston, where he allegedly entered through a detached garage apartment while she was out, local news sources said.
Love true crime? Sign up for our newsletter, The Law&Crime Docket, to get the latest real-life crime stories delivered right to your inbox.
Details from an arrest report suggest that Arnold waited in the shower with his face covered by biker shorts until the woman returned home. He was reportedly armed with a knife, although the type of knife was not specified in the report.
Police say Arnold exited the shower after his ex-girlfriend arrived back home and allegedly set upon her, using the knife to imitate stabbing and slicing moves on her throat, per WCBD.
He allegedly held the knife up toward the side of his head at one point, causing the victim to push Arnold away, cops say. The knife did not make contact with her skin during the alleged incident.
Police say that after the encounter, Arnold tossed the knife on the floor and started choking his ex with his left hand, causing her to stop breathing. “The victim was able to remove the shorts from the unknown male’s face,” the arrest report says, according to WCBD. “It was at that time she realized it was her ex-boyfriend,” cops add.
Arnold allegedly also told the woman that he was pranking her, and that he wanted to talk. She eventually ran in the main house and asked the family there to call 911, WCBD reported.
Arnold is being held at the Al Cannon Detention Center as he awaits his initial court appearance. The proceeding is scheduled for June 19.