ALLENTOWN, Pa. - From wielding handcuffs to wearing them.
A former Allentown police officer is charged with stealing drug money on the job.
Former APD Police officer Jason Krasley walked quietly to turn himself in at Lehigh County Jail, his wife by his side.
"Crime is illegal, even if you're a cop," said Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan.
Former Allentown police officer Jason Krasley (Nov. 15, 2024)
Holihan says a grand jury investigated a May 2019 double drug raid on Hamilton and Chew Streets in Allentown.
"The charges stem from an investigation that revealed that Krasley allegedly stole $5,500 in cash while acting as an Allentown police vice officer, he concealed the theft of that cash," said Holihan.
According to the grand jury presentment, Krasley was one of the officers who counted the seized money and was later inside the vice van where it was stored.
The presentment says back at APD, when the money was discovered missing, Krasley became argumentative with the other officers and left without submitting to a personal search.
The incident is also described in a whistle blower lawsuit filed by two veteran APD officers earlier this year.
That lawsuit contends that not only did Krasley and a handful of other officers steal drug money, but that some of them also had sex with prostitutes while on duty. The whistle blowers say after they told their supervisors about the alleged crimes they faced retaliation.
The city of Allentown says the whistle blower lawsuit is without merit and it looks forward to defending it in court.
APD released a statement about Krasley's arrest saying it contacted the DA when the incident happened and that an internal investigation was conducted.
Chief Roca said: "The Allentown Police Department has been and will continue to cooperate with the Lehigh County District Attorney and any other investigative agency."
Holihan says APD cooperated in the investigation.
"Although this is a former officer who's being arrested. It is unfair to paint the Allentown Police Department with a broad brush," said Holihan.
Krasley is free on $100,000 unsecured bond.
These aren't the only charges he's facing. In another incident, Krasley is charged with criminal mischief and harassment for an alleged altercation with a real estate appraiser.
According to the affidavit of probable cause for that case, the real estate appraiser was hired to appraise Krasley's neighbor's property.
When he showed up to do his work, the appraiser says Krasley confronted him and caused roughly $2,500 damage to his car.
