Man Accused of Injuring Police Dog During Arrest in Jonesboro

JONESBORO, Ark. – A man faces at least seven charges after his recent arrest in Jonesboro, including a charge for allegedly injuring a police K9.

At 9:51 PM on July 26, 2024, officers with the Jonesboro Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle due to the driver-side brake light being out, according to the probable cause affidavit. They made contact with the driver of the vehicle and told her the reason for the stop. Officers noted she appeared nervous and was short with her responses.

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The vehicle contained a passenger in the front seat and another passenger in the rear. Officers asked both for their identification, but they refused. After checking the driver’s information, police learned of pending charges for controlled substances. Other officers arrived and asked the occupants to step out of the vehicle, so police could conduct a K9 air sniff. That’s where things took a turn for the worse.

The occupants exited the vehicle but the rear passenger, Kevin Mason, began fleeing on foot. Officers gave chase and warned Mason if he didn’t stop running, the K9 would bite him. The affidavit says he continued and so, K9 Frost was released. The report notes Frost is certified in suspect apprehension.

Frost caught up to Mason and bit him on the upper right arm. Officers then pushed Mason to the ground and ordered him to roll onto his stomach. He refused to comply but officers secured his left hand into a handcuff. As they tried to get his right hand, he continued to struggle. Officers mounted his legs to prevent him from escaping but he pushed off the ground and continued to fight.

During the struggle, the affidavit says he began attacking the K9 in the nose and face area. Officers ordered him to stop. Frost bit into the left bicep/tricep area. That’s when Mason pulled his left arm into his body and slammed the left side of Frost’s face onto the pavement. He then continued to roll onto his back in an attempt to escape. All of this resulted in cuts and abrasions to the left side of Frost’s face. Frost lost his grip but regained it in the upper right shoulder and neck area. Finally, officers were able to gain control of the suspect.

With that out of the way, officers conducted the free air sniff of the vehicle. A positive alert was given on the passenger door area. Police found a backpack in the rear passenger seat which had fallen out during Mason’s attempted escape. Both of the other subjects told police the backpack was Mason’s. Inside, they found a plastic straw with suspected controlled substance residue. An open container of alcohol was also found near where Mason was seated.

While searching the area where Mason fled, police noted finding two clear plastic bags of meth and a broken glass pipe. In total, 15.2 grams of suspected meth was found.

Mason was arrested on charges including:

• Killing or injuring an animal used by law enforcement; D felony
• Possession of meth or cocaine with purpose to deliver, greater than 10 grams, less than 200 grams; A felony
• Possession of drug paraphernalia; D felony
• Tampering with evidence; D felony
• Resisting Arrest; B misdemeanor
• Fleeing; C misdemeanor
• Possession of an open container containing alcohol in a motor vehicle; C misdemeanor

Mason also had a valid failure-to-appear warrant through Jonesboro.

On Monday, Judge David Boling set his bond at $150,000 cash/surety, ordering that a GPS ankle monitor be required upon release.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

JPD’s Public Information Specialist Sally Smith told NEA Report on Tuesday that Frost was okay. His wounds were treatable by his handler, Levi Chism. No medical attention was needed.