SUMMIT TWP — A West Virginia man is accused of bludgeoning a dog with a sledgehammer at a township home, leaving it badly bloodied with a swollen snout and broken teeth, authorities said.

State police Saturday arrested John G. Riordan, 47, of Rock Cave on felony animal cruelty and other charges. He is in the Butler County Prison on $150,000 bond.

The dog's owner notified authorities after he returned to his Green Manor Drive home and found his injured 12-year-old springer spaniel. He told police that Riordan had been staying at his house and was the only one there with the dog for the “few hours” he was away.

Trooper Francis Walters said he found the dog with a swollen snout, teeth on the floor and the house “covered in blood.” Police believe the dog was struck “numerous times.”

The trooper recovered a small sledgehammer in the upstairs bedroom where the defendant had been staying. He said there was blood on “multiple parts of the sledgehammer.”

Riordan, who was reportedly seen leaving the house in a car with West Virginia license plates, was later found on Route 8 in Penn Township. He was alone in a car with the ignition on, and allegedly smelled of alcohol. Police said he admitted to drinking earlier that night.

Field sobriety tests indicated he was impaired, police said, but he refused breath or blood testing. Police noted they also saw blood on the legs of the defendant's pants.

District Judge Lewis Stoughton arraigned Riordan on a felony count of aggravated cruelty to an animal and charges of driving under the influence and unauthorized transfer or use of a license plate.

Along with the $150,000 bond, Stoughton imposed several conditions, including that the defendant may only be released to the county probation office for pretrial supervision. He was also ordered to wear an alcohol-monitoring bracelet and have no contact with animals.

Police did not identify the dog's owner, and the condition of the animal was not available.

John Riordan