A Kentucky man, identified as 40-year-old Jonathan “Cowboy Cody” Mason, was arrested earlier this month after allegedly releasing his pet raccoon inside a crowded bar in a fit of revenge.
The bizarre incident occurred at The Big Apple Grill and Bar in Murray, Kentucky, after Mason was kicked out for unruly behavior.
The Unusual Revenge Plan
Mason, upset after being ejected from the bar, decided to unleash his pet raccoon as an act of retaliation. According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, Mason had previously been banned from the bar, which led to his actions.
Witnesses at the scene reported that Mason asked them to open the door for him, seemingly unaware that he was holding the raccoon behind his back. Once inside, Mason reportedly tossed the animal into the bar, creating chaos.
One employee, attempting to catch the raccoon and release it outside, was bitten by the animal. The employee was later required to get a rabies shot as a precaution.
Police Pursuit and Arrest
After the raccoon was released, Mason fled the scene in his red pickup truck. Police quickly spotted his vehicle on Highway 94 East and initiated a traffic stop. However, Mason ignored the officer’s attempts to pull him over and continued driving before finally stopping in a parking lot.
Given Mason’s history of involving firearms with law enforcement, police approached his vehicle with guns drawn. When Mason refused to roll down the windows, officers used a window breaker to access the car.
After removing Mason from the vehicle, officers discovered that it had been left in neutral and rolled backward into one of the police cars.
Criminal Charges and Additional Findings
Mason was arrested and charged with one count each of assault, criminal trespassing, and resisting arrest. He also faced a charge for failing to maintain required insurance on his vehicle, as it was discovered to be uninsured.
After the arrest, police also learned that Mason had been involved in a previous bizarre incident in December, where he led police on a drunken chase while riding a malnourished mule and whipping patrons at another bar. He was charged with third-degree criminal trespass for that incident.
Witnesses’ Accounts and Mason’s Pet Raccoon
Witnesses at The Big Apple Grill and Bar shared their accounts of the chaotic scene. One patron described how Mason “slung” the raccoon into the restaurant without warning.
Another confirmed that the raccoon was Mason’s pet, and a bartender revealed that Mason had been carrying the animal around with him earlier that day.
The bar’s owner, upon reviewing surveillance footage, commented that Mason seemed to have a “death wish” when dealing with the police, and humorously added, “But meth’s a helluva drug,” implying that drug use may have played a role in his erratic behavior.
Jonathan Mason’s bizarre actions, including unleashing a pet raccoon in a bar and his history of troubling incidents, have led to his arrest and a series of criminal charges.
While the raccoon’s release created chaos and a potential health risk, it also revealed the depths of Mason’s volatile behavior and his disregard for the safety of others.
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