Suspect In Pittsburgh-Area VFW Strangling Arrested

ALIQUIPPA, PA — The primary suspect in the brutal beating and strangling of a man last month at the Penn Avenue VFW was apprehended Thursday.

Aliquippa police said Brett Ours, 39, was taken into custody after a short standoff at a residence in the 400 block of Allegheny Avenue in West Aliquippa. He was taken to the Aliquippa Police Department pending his arraignment on charges of attempted homicide, two counts of
aggravated assault, two counts of strangulation, possessing instruments of a crime and three counts of simple assault.

Ours had been on the run since the Jan. 5 unprovoked attack on Preston Coleman at the VFW. Coleman remains hospitalized as he recovers from his injuries.

Police said earlier that while Coleman was being attacked, he was mostly unconscious and defenseless. Ours used a bar stool to assault and strangle the victim, police said. During the attack, Ours took breaks before going back and additionally attacking and strangling the victim.

No one in the bar called police until after Ours departed. Coleman had to be life-flighted to an area hospital.

Working in conjunction with Aliquippa police in tracking down Ours was the Beaver County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Marshals, Pennsylvania State Police, Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office.

Another man who allegedly participated in the beating, Ron Brown, was arrested last month and is facing charges of aggravated assault, simple assault and liability for the conduct of another.