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Quite the wild situation unfolded in small-town Kentucky recently.
A man from Murray, Kentucky, named Jonathan Mason, aged 40, was taken into custody by the Murray Police Department on accusations of setting a raccoon free inside an operating business.
Mason reportedly arrived at the unnamed establishment at approximately 9:18 p.m. on June 6 and released the raccoon, which proceeded to bite a customer, according to a statement from the Murray Police Department on Facebook.
Jonathan Mason is alleged to have unleashed a rabid raccoon (not shown here) within a business only months after being detained for eluding police while riding a mule. (iStock | Murray Police Department)
The reportedly rabid raccoon’s release inside the business was just the latest in a string of animal-related offenses committed by Mason, police said.
In December 2024, police said a “manifestly” drunk Mason rode a mule to a liquor store. When he refused to leave, the police were called. Mason was arrested after trying to ride off on his mule, police said.
Jonathan Mason was arrested in December while allegedly riding a mule while drunk. (Murray Police Department)
Some witnesses reportedly told police they saw Mason unnecessarily whip the mule at a different business. The mule was taken away by the police.
A few days later, police said Mason tried to take back his mule, also while drunk. Mason was allegedly caught riding his mule down the road and refused to stop. He was arrested again and taken to jail, police said.
According to the Murray Police Department, spanning his three arrests, Mason has been charged with two counts of second-degree animal cruelty, third-degree fleeing or evading police, second-degree disorderly conduct, alcohol intoxication in a public place, two counts of third-degree criminal trespassing, two counts of resisting arrest, second-degree assault and failure of owner to maintain required insurance.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Murray Police Department for additional comment but has not received a response.
Nick Butler is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Do you have any tips? Reach out to Nick.Butler@Fox.com.
