David Blaine Investigated After Sex Assault Allegations: Reports

NEW YORK — Police are investigating magician David Blaine after sexual assault allegations were made against him by two women, according to reports.

The magician, known for stunts including burying himself in an underground plastic box in 1999 for seven days in Upper Manhattan, is under investigation after the women went to the NYPD, the New York Post and Daily Beast reported.

NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea confirmed an active investigation into Blaine at an unrelated press conference Monday, the Daily Beast reported. He gave few details.

The Daily Beast first reported the allegations Monday morning, saying that one claim against Blaine was regarding a woman who said she was assaulted inside Blaine's Manhattan apartment in 1998.

A second woman alleges that Blaine hypnotized her and made her touch him, the New York Post reported.

The two women were interviewed by detectives in the NYPD's Special Victim Division's Cold Case Squad, according to the Post.

Law enforcement sources told the Post that both cases are beyond the statute of limitations and Blaine has not been charged with any crimes.

The Daily Beast wrote that former model Natasha Prince said Blaine raped her in 2004 in London, which Blaine denied. Detectives investigated that claim and declined further action, according to the Daily Beast.

The NYPD referred Patch to the comments Shea made during the unrelated press conference Monday in which an active investigation was confirmed.

In an earlier statement Monday, NYPD spokeswoman Sergeant Jessica McRorie told Patch in a statement: "The NYPD takes sexual assault and rape cases extremely seriously, and urges anyone who has been a victim to file a report so we can perform a comprehensive investigation, and offer support and services to survivors."