MURRAY – At 12:56 p.m. today, Brandon Story posted a video on Facebook with the caption, “Enjoying a nice lunch at Hih-Burger and then…” By 9:15 p.m., the 27-second video showing Murray Police Department officers arresting a man riding a mule outside the restaurant on South 4th Street had been viewed more than 207,000 times.
According to the uniform citation, MPD was dispatched to East Sycamore Street, near the Calloway County Animal Shelter about a possibly intoxicated man riding a mule down the road. When the officer arrived, he found Jonathan Mason, 39, of Murray, in front of Calloway County Fire-Rescue Fire Station 1.
Mason allegedly refused to dismount the mule and fled west down Sycamore Street before turning right on 4th Street. MPD apprehended him as he approached a truck hauling a horse trailer that was parked behind Hih-Burger.
He was charged with misdemeanors, third-degree fleeing or evading and second-degree animal cruelty. Notably, it marked the second time in as many days that Mason was arrested and charged with, among other things, animal cruelty.
Shortly after 9 p.m.* on Saturday, MPD responded to a call about an unwanted subject at Tap 216. According to the Saturday citation, the restaurant manager told officers that Mason was riding the mule when he arrived. Inside the bar, he allegedly was yelling and cracking a bull whip at patrons. The manager reported asking him to leave five times before contacting law enforcement.
Mason was charged with six counts of second-degree disorderly conduct, six counts of public intoxication, third-degree criminal trespassing and resisting arrest.
MPD also received a call that night from an employee at Big Apple Grill and Bar, this one was related specifically to Mason’s mule. According to the uniform citation, Mason allegedly brought the whip into the bar and told the employee he used it to “break” the animal in. He explained similar reasons for making the animal take a 15-mile trek to town.
After work, the employee allegedly saw Mason’s mule tied to the loading dock. She told the officer that the animal’s halter was not on properly and that he was “tired and sweating hard.” The witness reported Mason mounted the mule and whipped him an “unnecessary” number of times; he also “cross-over whipped” the animal and kicked him for dramatic effect as he left.
Animal Control Officer Lexie Manning’s assessment that the mule was approximately 100 pounds underweight was also noted in the citation. Mason was charged with second-degree animal cruelty.
Calloway District Judge set a $1,000 surety bond, which was posted the next day. Conditions of Mason’s bond included not returning to Tap 216 and staying away from the mule.
Mason will be arraigned in Calloway District Court tomorrow, Dec. 10, at 9 a.m. in all three cases against him.
People charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
*Editor’s note: The original version of this story said the call was dispatched shortly after 11 p.m. We apologize for the error.
Sounds like you are good at what you do!