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Parowan • Amber Burton said she and her young daughters were near hysterical with grief after the city's police chief admitted to them that he had shot their dog Tootsie last summer.
"My daughters just started sobbing and bawling," Burton said Tuesday on the front porch of her home.
Parowan Police Chief Preston Griffiths was charged last week with obstruction of justice, a Class A misdemeanor, and a Class B misdemeanor of official misconduct in the alleged incident that occurred on July 19.
Griffiths was served with a summons and has an arraignment scheduled for Tuesday in 5th District Court in Cedar City.
On the morning of the alleged shooting, Burton drove to her church with Tootsie, a Labrador, border-collie mix not yet 2 years old, in the back of the truck. But when she came out, the dog was gone and no one knew what happened. She said she checked with the animal shelter and asked Griffiths while he was in a cafe if he had seen her dog.
He told her he had not.
When Burton contacted police later that day, an officer told her that the chief had shot a dog that day, but he did not know if it was hers.
"He said [Preston] shot the dog because it had been hit by a car," said Burton.
The next day, Burton called a Cedar City radio station show and offered a reward for anyone with information about her dog.
"Within three seconds a woman called to say she saw the police chief with my dog," said Burton.
On her way to the police station with her two daughters, ages 3 and 6, Burton said she stopped along side the chief in his patrol car.
"He said, 'Still no sign [of the dog], huh?' "
Burton said she told the chief that she had a witness who saw him with the dog and that an officer told her that he had shot a dog the previous day.
She said Griffiths at first denied shooting Tootsie, but while standing next to her truck admitted he had shot the dog.
"He said, 'I can't keep lying to you, I shot your dog,'" Burton said.
That is when she and her daughters started crying.
Burton said the chief he was trying to collar the loose dog and it "nipped" at him, and he shot it. But he admitted the bite did not break the skin.
Calls to Griffiths seeking comment were not returned.
When contacted Tuesday, Deputy Millard County Attorney Patrick Finlinson declined to comment.
Parowan Mayor Donald Landes said Tuesday that Griffiths has admitted to the shooting and said it was a mistake and that he is embarrassed by the incident.
Landes downplayed the shooting while acknowledging the emotional attachment people form with their pets.
"With all the issues we have to talk about, there are many things more important than a dog," he said.
Landes said that the Griffiths, 43, has served as a police officer in the Iron County community for 20 years, and has a loyal following among residents and support of the City Council.
The mayor said Griffith will remain on duty until his case is resolved.