Kentucky Man Arrested for Releasing Raccoon Inside Busy Bar After Getting Banned: Police

A man from Kentucky has been charged for allegedly releasing a raccoon inside a bar after being banned from the premises.

On Friday, June 6, a 40-year-old man identified as Jonathan Mason allegedly loosed a raccoon into “an open business” in Murray, Ky., before leaving the scene, the Murray Police Department stated in a Tuesday, June 10 press release. The animal reportedly bit someone.

According to local outlet The Murray Sentinel, the place of business was identified as the Big Apple Grill and Bar.

In their release, the police department stated that they received a call about the incident around 9:18 p.m. The caller alleged that “an individual had intentionally released a raccoon into an open business.”

“Officers soon located this individual while he was operating his vehicle, and they conducted a traffic stop on him,” according to the statement. However, the man “refused to roll down his windows or exit the vehicle.”

This resulted in officers having to remove Mason from his car.

According to police, “Mr. Mason had already been warned that he was not allowed on the property of that business.”  

“Mr. Mason was arrested and charged with Assault 2nd Degree, Criminal Trespassing 3rd Degree, Resisting Arrest, and Failure of Owner to Maintain Required Insurance 1st Offense; he was lodged in the Calloway County Jail,” the release noted. 

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Mason’s recent arrest comes following a December 2024 arrest after he allegedly drunkenly rode a mule to a liquor store, according to Fox News. He was arrested a second time days later while attempting to reclaim the animal, which had been taken by police.

PEOPLE contacted the Big Apple Grill and Bar for comment, but did not hear back at the time of publication.