A man known locally as “Cowboy Cody” is facing multiple charges after allegedly releasing a raccoon inside a packed bar in Murray, Kentucky, last Friday night—an incident that ended with someone getting bitten.
Police say 40-year-old Jonathan Mason had trapped the raccoon earlier that day on his farm and brought it with him to the bar. According to bartender Mary Hafner, Mason—who had already been drinking—had a history of causing trouble and was banned from the establishment due to a prior incident involving a mule.
Hafner told The New York Post that she tried to de-escalate the situation by talking to Mason, who initially agreed to leave. But moments later, he returned and let the raccoon loose inside the bar. One employee tried to grab the animal by its tail and was bitten, later requiring a rabies shot. Hafner said she was able to corner the raccoon with a towel and release it outside safely.
When officers responded around 9:18 p.m., they found Mason driving nearby. He reportedly refused to cooperate, so police had to forcibly remove him from his vehicle. Authorities later confirmed Mason had previously been warned not to return to the property.
This isn’t Mason’s first brush with the law. Back in December, local station WDKY-TV reported he was arrested after riding a mule to a bar and allegedly cracking a bullwhip at other patrons. Witnesses said he rode the mule 15 miles into town and was known for mistreating animals, especially when drunk. Animal control later found the mule to be severely underweight.
Though Mason was released on bond and ordered to stay away from both the bar and the mule, he was spotted again the next day—riding the mule down the road and tipping his hat to bystanders.
