Concord Man Racks Up Burglary, Stalking, Trespass, Other Charges

CONCORD, NH — A man who is currently homeless in Concord is facing multiple charges after two incidents in one week on Windham Drive — and pending charges in Merrimack County Superior Court. Austin Christopher Shelton, 24, was arrested on Jan. 24, 2020, on resisting arrest or detention, criminal trespass, and loitering or prowling charges as well as a warrant for felony burglary and stalking charges. On Jan. 21, officers were sent to Windham Drive for a report of a possible burglary around 5 p.m. Officers spoke to the owner of the home who suspected Shelton, a previous resident at the home, had been in his house, according to an affidavit.

At the time, the man was upstairs and heard "several loud thumps and jingle bells" from the basement. As he came downstairs, "he saw Austin in his kitchen" holding what looked like a laptop or a baseball card holder. He ordered him to stop but accused Shelton fleeing.

About two weeks before, the homeowner said, Shelton was formally served with a stalking protection order after being told in the summer of 2019 that he could no longer live in the home.

The officer inspected the basement door and noticed it was ajar. Another homeowner stated garbage cans appeared to be out of place, too.

Another officer, according to the report, called Shelton and he "stated he entered the house to stay out of the cold" and admitted to knowing "he was not supposed to enter the house." A claimed a sleeping bag and a PSP that were in the home were his, according to the report.

An affidavit was filed against him on a burglary charge and later, a theft charge was added to the docket, according to court records.

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Three days later, around 7 p.m., officers were called back to the home for a report of a possible break-in.

The homeowners told police they were out shopping when a backyard camera alerted them to a trespasser at the home. The homeowner then called police.

The first officer to arrive found footprints in the snow that led to the backyard of the residence. The officer followed the footsteps while other officers arrived, setting up a neighborhood perimeter. Later, another officer reported she found a possible suspect and called for assistance. The suspect, however, fled the area.

Police chased the suspect all over the neighborhood for more than two hours while the homeowner reviewed video footage and stated it was Shelton again. A New Hampshire State Police K-9 unit was called in to assist, too.

Eventually, officers caught up to Shelton as he ran toward the westbound side of Interstate 393 in an effort to elude police. After falling into a ravine, Shelton, surrendered. He was arrested and held without bail.

Shelton is due back in Merrimack County Superior Court for a dispositional conference hearing on Feb. 28. He was previously arrested and indicted last year on felony theft by unauthorized-firearms charges as well as arrested on a felony possession of heroin and another warrant in December. Those cases are still pending in court, according to records.

Editor's note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Concord Police Department and does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the removal request process for New Hampshire Patch police reports.

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