NEW CAANAN, Conn. — New Caanan resident David M. Letterman was jailed early Saturday morning after a series of noise complaints against the local businessman.

Police say Letterman, 60, has been notorious for hosting parties at his house at late hours for more than 20 years. Originally the parties didn’t begin until after midnight, but as Letterman has aged they’ve started an hour earlier.

The noise wasn’t a problem until Margaret Melman, 43, built her “dream house” on property adjacent to Letterman’s spacious estate. Once Ms. Melman began living in her new house, she began complaining of noise coming from Letterman’s house.

“He’s got guests coming over almost every night of the week, and it seems like almost every night there’s someone playing loud rock and roll music over there,” Ms. Melman said. “They’re always talking and laughing into the odd hours of the night, and it’s driving me crazy.”

Mr. Letterman’s attorney, Rose Diamond, says that her client has tried to work with Ms. Melman to reduce the noise, including reducing the number of parties he throws to four nights a week. But Mr. Letterman insists on his right to entertain in the comfort of his own home.

The matter came to a head when Letterman began a series of parties that included visits by numerous local pet owners, who brought their dogs, cats, and goats to Letterman’s house to perform what Ms. Diamond referred to as “innocent, if stupid, pet tricks.”

Ms. Melman accused Mr. Letterman of taking bets on the outcome of the talent contest between the various pets on display, which Ms. Diamond denies. “This was an exhibition, not a competition,” Ms. Diamond said. “There was no wagering.”

Ms. Melman responded by going to Mr. Letterman’s front door and demanding one final time that he stop. She claims that Mr. Letterman rebuffed her complaints and then threw a blue index card at her, shattering her car’s side window.