Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Jason Krasley, a former investigator at the U.S. Center for SafeSport and ex-Allentown, Pennsylvania police officer, was arrested on Friday and charged with multiple felonies, including rape and sex trafficking. The charges stem from alleged crimes committed between 2011 and 2015 during his tenure with the police force, according to the district attorney’s office.
Krasley, who left the Allentown Police Department in 2021, was terminated by the SafeSport Center last year following his arrest for allegedly stealing $5,500 from a drug bust he participated in as an officer.
The recent arrest raises questions about the vetting process used by SafeSport, an organization tasked with investigating sensitive cases of sexual abuse within Olympic sports. The Denver-based center, established in 2017, employs investigators with backgrounds in law enforcement, given their expertise in handling such cases.
Ju’Riese Colon, CEO of SafeSport, expressed dismay over the allegations against Krasley. “I am appalled that a former staff member has been accused of such heinous acts in his previous role as a police officer,” Colon said in a statement. “We hold all staff to the highest standard because safeguarding athletes is our utmost priority.”
The center has launched a third-party audit of cases handled by Krasley and is working with experts to determine further actions in light of the new allegations. The Associated Press reported that one of Krasley’s cases was reassigned following his earlier arrest, while another claimant has requested their case be reopened.
Krasley, 47, faces charges including felony kidnapping, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, intimidation of a witness, and misdemeanor criminal coercion. His attorney, James Burke, has denied the allegations, stating Krasley “absolutely denies the accusations.”
Krasley’s legal troubles are compounded by his mention in a whistleblower lawsuit filed in 2022 by two Allentown officers alleging widespread misconduct within the department.
In addition to Krasley, Kevin Weaver, a current Allentown police officer, was also arrested and charged with felony rape and involuntary sexual servitude. Weaver has been placed on administrative leave pending investigation.