GRAND FORKS (AP) - The retired longtime police chief in the northeastern North Dakota town of Thompson has pleaded not guilty to attacking his wife.

Seventy-year-old John Thomas Howard is charged with felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor simple assault.

He's accused of restraining and choking his wife during arguments in June and July.

Howard is free on $2,500 bond with orders to have no contact with his wife. A pretrial conference has been set for September 25.

Howard was Thompson's police chief from 1978 until he retired in May 2000.