Air Force anti-assault officer Krusinski 'groped woman'

Jeff Krusinski was in charge of preventing sexual assault in the US Air Force

The officer tasked with stemming sexual attacks in the US Air Force has been arrested and accused of sexual assault in Virginia, police have said.

Lt Col Jeff Krusinski was drunk when he grabbed a woman's breasts and buttocks in a car park, Arlington police said.

The 41-year-old officer has been charged with sexual battery and was released on a $5,000 (£3,216) bond.

The Air Force has been criticised after a slew of sexual assault cases at its main training centre in Texas.

"The victim fought the suspect off as he attempted to touch her again and alerted police," police said after the arrest of the head of the Air Force's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response programme just after midnight on Sunday.

Air Force officials told US media that Lt Col Krusinski had been removed from his post following reports of the arrest.

In the sexual assault scandal at the training centre at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, dozens of female and male recruits said they were sexually harassed or raped by their instructors.