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TUESDAY 10/22/24 UPDATE:Early Tuesday morning, police charged Anthony Quesen, 25, with criminal homicide following Monday’s deadly stabbing of officer Benjamin Brallier near the Montour Trail in Moon Township.According to a criminal complaint, police located Quesen about a third of a mile from the scene with cuts to his hands and blood stains on his clothes. He allegedly told police Brallier stabbed him and took his bag. Investigators said there was a blood trail from where Brallier was found on the trail to a bike. Quesen’s ID was found in a bag near the bike. “We put out on our social media what we were looking for, the items that we had,” said Victor Joseph, assistant superintendent of Allegheny County. “We were fortunate enough to receive a call from a concerned citizen that saw an individual come out from the wood line on the trail shirtless, and officers from the Pennsylvania State Police and Moon Township police responded there and were able to detain the suspect at that time.”As of early Tuesday morning, Quesen was in the Allegheny County Jail awaiting arraignment.”The Pennsylvania State Police is heartbroken to confirm the tragic loss of one of our own, dedicated Liquor Enforcement Officer Benjamin Brallier, who was fatally stabbed while off-duty yesterday. With over 20 years of service, he was an exemplary officer and a devoted father and husband,” said a statement from Col. Christopher Paris, the state police commissioner.Brallier’s co-workers said he was a 20-year veteran of the state police Liquor Enforcement Unit.”My time with Ben for the last 15 years, I mean, you know, we did a lot of things together,” said officer Wayne Wright. “Having wives that were both educators, little girls that are both the same age, we became close. A good man, willing to do anything for anybody. He always was.”Brallier’s former partner, officer Tim Zundel, said Brallier had just gotten off duty Monday and asked if anyone wanted to go to the trail with him. Zundel said Brallier jogged there often.”At the end of his shift, he went home, and every day, he would run on that trail,” said Zundel. “Obviously, he never thought it would be a place where he would end up needing help.” Montour Trail walkers tell Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that the trail is safe, and they plan to continue their daily walks. “It’s safe as far as I’m concerned. This is a isolated incident,” John Shaver said. “It’s a friendly trail, people always saying ‘Hi’ to each other and everything else, so you can’t be fearful,” Chris Dinardo said. The Montour Trail Council and Hollow Oak Land Trust released a joint statement Tuesday on the attack, saying “our heartfelt condolences go out to family, friends, and colleagues. The joint statement said both organizations are in cooperation with authorities and will “continuously improve safety measures” for all users. Allegheny County police are asking for witnesses who were along the trail or anyone who has video, possibly a GoPro mounted to a bike, to contact their office. EARLIER REPORT 10/21/24:Officials are investigating a stabbing along the Montour Trail in Moon Township following.Allegheny County officials were called to the Montour Trail before 3 p.m. near the 1900 block of Hassam Road Monday after reports of an injured man. When officials arrived on the scene, they say 44-year-old Benjamin Brallier was found with a stab wound. Brallier was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Moon Township police requested the assistance of the Allegheny County Police Department’s Homicide Unit, and detectives are initiating an investigation.The Allegheny County Police Department said during their initial processing of the scene, detectives located a bike and bag near where the victim was found. County police are seeking the community’s help in locating the owner of the bicycle. Anyone with information is asked to contact the county police tip line at 833-ALL-TIPS. Officials were also near the scene for hours following the incident for a reported SWAT situation, which started near the AHN Soccer Complex along State Avenue. Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 does not know the extent of the situation and if it is related to the homicide. We will provide updates when we get them. This is a developing story. Stay with Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 for updates. Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.
TUESDAY 10/22/24 UPDATE:
Early Tuesday morning, police charged Anthony Quesen, 25, with criminal homicide following Monday’s deadly stabbing of officer Benjamin Brallier near the Montour Trail in Moon Township.
According to a criminal complaint, police located Quesen about a third of a mile from the scene with cuts to his hands and blood stains on his clothes. He allegedly told police Brallier stabbed him and took his bag.
Investigators said there was a blood trail from where Brallier was found on the trail to a bike. Quesen’s ID was found in a bag near the bike.
“We put out on our social media what we were looking for, the items that we had,” said Victor Joseph, assistant superintendent of Allegheny County. “We were fortunate enough to receive a call from a concerned citizen that saw an individual come out from the wood line on the trail shirtless, and officers from the Pennsylvania State Police and Moon Township police responded there and were able to detain the suspect at that time.”
As of early Tuesday morning, Quesen was in the Allegheny County Jail awaiting arraignment.
“The Pennsylvania State Police is heartbroken to confirm the tragic loss of one of our own, dedicated Liquor Enforcement Officer Benjamin Brallier, who was fatally stabbed while off-duty yesterday. With over 20 years of service, he was an exemplary officer and a devoted father and husband,” said a statement from Col. Christopher Paris, the state police commissioner.
Brallier’s co-workers said he was a 20-year veteran of the state police Liquor Enforcement Unit.
“My time with Ben for the last 15 years, I mean, you know, we did a lot of things together,” said officer Wayne Wright. “Having wives that were both educators, little girls that are both the same age, we became close. A good man, willing to do anything for anybody. He always was.”
Brallier’s former partner, officer Tim Zundel, said Brallier had just gotten off duty Monday and asked if anyone wanted to go to the trail with him. Zundel said Brallier jogged there often.
“At the end of his shift, he went home, and every day, he would run on that trail,” said Zundel. “Obviously, he never thought it would be a place where he would end up needing help.”
Montour Trail walkers tell Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that the trail is safe, and they plan to continue their daily walks.
“It’s safe as far as I’m concerned. This is a isolated incident,” John Shaver said.
“It’s a friendly trail, people always saying ‘Hi’ to each other and everything else, so you can’t be fearful,” Chris Dinardo said.
The Montour Trail Council and Hollow Oak Land Trust released a joint statement Tuesday on the attack, saying “our heartfelt condolences go out to [Brallier’s] family, friends, and colleagues.
The joint statement said both organizations are in cooperation with authorities and will “continuously improve safety measures” for all users.
Allegheny County police are asking for witnesses who were along the trail or anyone who has video, possibly a GoPro mounted to a bike, to contact their office.
EARLIER REPORT 10/21/24:
Officials are investigating a stabbing along the Montour Trail in Moon Township following.
Allegheny County officials were called to the Montour Trail before 3 p.m. near the 1900 block of Hassam Road Monday after reports of an injured man.
When officials arrived on the scene, they say 44-year-old Benjamin Brallier was found with a stab wound.
Brallier was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Moon Township police requested the assistance of the Allegheny County Police Department’s Homicide Unit, and detectives are initiating an investigation.
The Allegheny County Police Department said during their initial processing of the scene, detectives located a bike and bag near where the victim was found.
County police are seeking the community’s help in locating the owner of the bicycle.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the county police tip line at 833-ALL-TIPS.
Officials were also near the scene for hours following the incident for a reported SWAT situation, which started near the AHN Soccer Complex along State Avenue.
Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 does not know the extent of the situation and if it is related to the homicide. We will provide updates when we get them.
This is a developing story.
Stay with Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 for updates. Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.
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