Breakups are never easy, but one South Carolina man took post-relationship chaos to a whole new level. What he called a “prank” has now spiraled into criminal charges and a full-blown lawsuit that’s making people across the state shake their heads in disbelief.
According to reports out of South Carolina, 25-year-old Jackson Collum Arnold was arrested after pulling what he described as a “joke” on his ex-girlfriend. The problem? His idea of humor involved breaking into her home, hiding in her shower half-naked, and holding a knife. Not exactly something you’d call lighthearted.
Arnold allegedly entered his ex’s residence without permission and hid inside her bathroom, naked from the waist down, with a knife in hand. When the woman walked in, he reportedly emerged from the shower with the weapon, concealing his face with a pair of her bicycle shorts. According to WCBD-2, Arnold later told police that the entire stunt was meant to “lighten the mood.” Unsurprisingly, his ex didn’t see it that way.
South Carolina Ex Boyfriend Breaks In To Former Girlfriend’s Home and Hides In Shower
The situation escalated even further. The woman told police that Arnold made a slashing motion across his throat before putting his hands around her neck. Needless to say, the so-called “prank” took a terrifying turn that left the victim shaken and authorities stepping in fast.
Arnold was soon arrested and charged with several serious offenses, including assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, first-degree burglary, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to ABC-25. While he claimed the incident was just a bad joke, police and prosecutors clearly disagreed.
But the story doesn’t end there. The South Carolina man now faces even more fallout this time in civil court. The victim filed a lawsuit against Arnold, accusing him of outrageous and intolerable behavior. Her attorney, Bradley W. Bonville, described his actions as “so extreme and outrageous so as to exceed all possible bounds of decency.”
A Twisted Tale
Court documents reportedly detail how the pair had recently broken up and that Arnold became “hyper-obsessed” with his ex afterward. Things allegedly escalated as he began stalking her at her job as a nanny in Charleston County, behavior that painted a clear pattern of fixation long before the bathroom incident.
What’s particularly chilling is how Arnold seemed to think this was a harmless prank gone wrong, when in reality, it sounds more like something out of a psychological thriller. South Carolina residents online have expressed everything from shock to outrage, with many pointing out that “pranks” like this aren’t funny, they’re dangerous.
As the case continues, one thing’s certain: this South Carolina story is a reminder that boundaries exist for a reason, and violating them in the name of a “joke” can carry some very real consequences.
Sabrina Russell 
Kendra Quinn 
