A mayor in Utah says misdemeanor charges against the police chief appear to stem from a dog slaying last summer.

Parowan Mayor Donald Landes tells the Deseret News of Salt Lake City he believes the charges against Chief Preston Griffiths related to the shooting last July.

Griffiths was served Friday with a summons to appear March 22 in 5th District Court in Iron County on official misconduct and obstruction of justice charges. The case is being handled by Millard County prosecutors.

The 43-year-old Griffiths has been police chief since July 2003. The mayor says he's still on the job.

Griffiths hasn't commented on the charges.

Parowan animal control policies have been a hot topic since a resident shot two dogs he said were harassing his sheep in January 2010.