a man banned from a local establishment decided to get revenge by releasing a live raccoon inside — and now faces serious consequences.
According to the New York Post, Jonathan Mason, 40, caused chaos inside the Big Apple Grill in Murray, Kentucky, after showing up with a raccoon he’d captured earlier on his farm. Known around town as “Cowboy Cody,” Mason reportedly let the scared animal loose inside the bar after being reminded that he was not welcome.
Raccoon On The Loose: Employee Bitten
One of the bar’s employees tried to stop the raccoon by grabbing its tail. Unfortunately, the animal bit him, forcing the staff member to seek medical treatment and undergo a series of rabies shots. “I’m a bartender, so you know I’ve seen some crazy stuff in my time. But nothing like this,” said Mary Hafner, a worker at the bar who witnessed the entire ordeal.
Hafner also told the New York Post that Mason had been carrying the raccoon with him throughout the day. When he was told to leave the bar, he released the animal in retaliation.
Local Legend With a Wild History
This isn’t the first time “Cowboy Cody” has made headlines for bizarre behavior. Just six months ago, Mason was arrested after leading police on a chase, while riding a mule, and reportedly under the influence.
In a statement, the Murray Police Department confirmed that officers had pulled Mason over in a separate incident. He refused to roll down his window or exit the vehicle, which led to police removing him from the car and taking him into custody. He was arrested and formally charged with Assault 2nd Degree, Criminal Trespassing 3rd Degree, Resisting Arrest, and Failure of Owner to Maintain Required Insurance 1st Offense. Authorities confirmed that Mason was taken into custody and is currently being held at the Calloway County Jail. The department emphasized that the charges stem directly from the chaos he caused at the Big Apple Grill and his ongoing pattern of disruptive behavior.