In June 2024, a 16-year-old female complainant reported to police that she had been sexually assaulted by her male basketball coach. The incident reportedly took place at a hotel in early 2024 when the accused accompanied the complainant to a basketball development camp outside of Edmonton. It was reported to police that the coach produced bottles of alcohol and hallucinogenic drugs and encouraged the complainant to consume them. Once intoxicated, he sexually assaulted the complainant.
Following an investigation by the Edmonton Police Service Sexual Assault Section, Ronald William Olson, 48, was charged with sexual assault, sexual exploitation, administering a noxious thing and possession of a controlled drug. He has since been released with several conditions, including not having contact within anyone under the age or 16 outside of incidental or superficial contact such as customer/employee interactions at a workplace or business; not attending any public swimming area, school/school yard, daycare, playground, youth shelter or public library; and not seeking or maintaining any volunteer or employment position that is a position of trust or authority over a person under 16 years of age. Olson is scheduled to appear in an Edmonton court on Wednesday, July 10, 2024.
Olson has reportedly been coaching basketball in Edmonton since 2015. As a result, police believe there may be other complainants. It is important to remember that abuse of a position of trust, authority, or power can invalidate what might otherwise appear to be consent.
Complainants are encouraged to come forward by calling the EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone or reporting online at
https://www.edmontonpolice.ca/ContactEPS/SAOnlineCrimeReport . Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.p3tips.com/250.