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First Posted: 9/17/2013

PITTSTON – Police arrested three men early Tuesday morning by following a trail of beer cans traced to a burglary at a distributor on Kennedy Boulevard.

Police allege Cody Nelson, 21, of Exeter, smashed a glass window at Patel’s Beverage and stole two 30 packs of Bud Light Beer at about 2:15 a.m. As Nelson left the store, he tripped causing beer cans to spill, according to charges filed.

Police chased Thomas Gale and John Patte to the shore of the Susquehanna River where they were arrested. As police escorted Gale and Patte to cruisers, officers passed beer cans and bolt cutters on the ground near the Water Street Bridge.

When officers returned to retrieve the bolt cutters, the beer cans were missing.

Police allege Nelson returned and picked up the beer cans that were next to the bolt cutters.

The three men were arraigned on burglary related charges and jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $25,000 bail each.