ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — A western Pennsylvania man has been charged with homicide after allegedly stabbing an off-duty Liquor Control Board Enforcement officer while he jogged on a walking trail.
Benjamin Brallier was found lying along the Montour Trail in Moon Township, Allegheny County Monday afternoon, suffering from numerous apparent stab wounds, authorities claim in a criminal complaint affidavit. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Brallier's wife told police her husband was an active Liquor Control Board Enforcement officer and avid runner who normally ran on the trail for exercise before their children came home from school.
Investigators examined the crime scene and found a blood trail leading from the place where Brallier's body was found to a nearby area where a green bicycle was found. A multicolored bag was found in a culvert near the bicycle. Police looked inside the bag and found ID belonging to Anthony Quesen, according to the complaint.
Police called Quesen's mother, who reported her son often went riding on a green bicycle and provided a photo of it to investigators.
Quesen was located by State Police at about 10 p.m. Monday, near an entrance to the Montour Trail a short distance from the crime scene, according to the criminal complaint. Quesen had cuts on his hands and blood on his sweatpants, police claim.
As police approached, Quesen claimed he had been stabbed by another man on the trail, who took his bag, the complaint states. Police noted that the wounds on his hands were consistent with those caused by the use of a sharp-edged weapon.
Quesen allegedly refused to answer questions about the incident and requested legal representation.
He is charged with one count of criminal homicide.
