[naviga:img class="img-responsive" alt="Jordan Shelton" src="/Assets/news2015/1031DayShelton.JPG"/]

Jordan Shelton

East Lyme — Police have arrested a man who allegedly punched a dog in the face and then beat up an acquaintance because he wanted to sleep in the acquaintance’s bed.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Jordan Shelton, 34, was at 22 Peggy Lane in the early morning hours of Aug. 8, looking for a place to stay. The man who lives there, 48-year-old Thomas Rolfe, told police he said Shelton could stay only if he slept on the floor.

Shelton allegedly tried to get into Rolfe’s bed anyway. When Rolfe told him he couldn’t sleep there, the affidavit states, Shelton punched Rolfe’s dog in the face, causing it to yelp. When Rolfe told Shelton not to punch his dog, Shelton began punching Rolfe, according to the affidavit.

In a statement, Rolfe told police Shelton hit him almost 20 times before fleeing on a bike. Rolfe also said he did not know Shelton to be violent prior to this incident.

Police photographs of Rolfe’s injuries documented a bloodied nose along with a deeply bruised and swollen left eye and other red marks. The dog did not have any visible injuries.

Police said they checked 12 Black Point Road — Shelton’s last known address — and found Shelton’s mother, who saw him the night before and gave a clothing description but said he rarely stays at the house.

Police then visited the home of Shelton’s uncle at 12 Tabernacle Ave. Outside, officers found a black bike that appeared to recently have been ridden, according to the affidavit. Police said no one at 12 Tabernacle Ave. answered when officers knocked on doors and windows.

Based on their investigation, police applied for and received a warrant for Shelton’s arrest earlier in October. On Monday, police said, a Waterford officer located Shelton walking along state Route 1 near Clark Lane and took him into custody on the outstanding warrant.

In his statement to police, Shelton denied having punched Rolfe or Rolfe's dog. Shelton told police he visited 22 Peggy Lane the night of Aug. 7 because Rolfe was having a party. Shelton said he left by 11 p.m. with a group of people he couldn't name, according to the affidavit.

Shelton is facing charges of third-degree assault and cruelty to animals. Released on a $1,000 nonsurety bond, he is due Nov. 8 in New London Superior Court.