Accused Of Groping A Woman In A Parking Lot In Arlington, VA

The Air Force officer who was in charge of the service's sexual assault prevention program has been arrested and charged with the sexual assault of a woman.

Lt. Col Jeffrey Krusinski was arrested after a woman said he had grabbed her breasts and buttocks in a parking lot in Arlington, VA, in the early morning hours of May 5. She said she was able to fight him off.

Krusinski has been removed from his position as the head of the prevention program, according to a report from Stars and Stripes. He is to be arraigned on Thursday. A judge in Arlington will determine if Krusinski will be tried in a civilian court or by the military. The Air Force has requested that it be allowed to handle the trial.

Pentagon spokesman George Little said in a prepared statement Monday that "(Defense) Secretary (Chuck) Hagel expressed outrage and disgust over the troubling allegations and emphasized that this matter will be dealt with swiftly and decisively."

"Sexual assault has no place in the United States military. The American people, including our service members, should expect a culture of absolutely no tolerance for this deplorable behavior that violates not only the law, but basic principles of respect, honor and dignity in our society and its military," Little said in the statement.

(Photo provided by Arlington, VA, County Police)

FMI: http://www.afpc.af.mil/library/sapr/index.asp