The use of social media brought a quick end to the investigation into the theft of five guns from a Pine Grove sporting goods store.

A Jamestown man faces felony charges after allegedly stealing five AR-style firearms in Pennsylvania. Damion E. Dalton, 20, of Jamestown was charged Sunday by the State Police at Corry with burglary, a class 2 felony; five counts of retail theft, a class 3 felony, criminal trespass – breaking into a structure, a class 2 felony; and criminal mischief – damaging property, a class 3 felony. It’s alleged the break-in took place Saturday at 11:29 p.m. at Tall Tales Sporting Goods on Market Street, Pine Grove.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, two men entered the property, approaching the north side of the building to damage or alter electrical wires to the building. Then, at 11:43 p.m., they allegedly broke the front window of the store and stole five AR rifles. The men then ran north.

The State Police at Corry’s crime scene unit and State Police forensic service unit responded to the scene. Surveillance footage showed two white men committing the burglary, with one of the men not wearing a mask and the other’s nose showing through his mask. The surveillance footage was distributed over social media, and the State Police at Warren received an anonymous tip Sunday afternoon saying Dalton was involved in the burglary.

“An officer within Jamestown (Police Department) recognized and identified one of the individuals from the surveillance footage,” the affidavit of probable cause states. “The individual with no mask on was identified as Edward Dalton. Additionally, Jamestown PD related they had information to believe Dalton was in possession of the stolen firearms and was trying to sell them.”

Jamestown Police requested a search warrant to search Dalton’s 216 Forest Avenue apartment, with police saying they believed two of the rifles had been stolen, but the serial numbers had been obliterated. Store tags on four rifles confirmed they were from Tall Tales.

Jamestown police officers arrested Dalton and continued their search of the apartment while State Police at Corry troopers asked Jamestown police if they could speak to Dalton. They did so in Jamestown at 3:47 p.m. Monday and, according to the Affidavit of Probable Cause, Dalton allegedly admitted being part of the burglary. The second person involved has not been identified by police.

“During the interview Dalton made an admission to being one of the individuals who committed this burglary by breaking into the victim gun shop and stealing the firearms,” the affidavit states. “Once obtaining the firearms, Dalton related he took them back to New York. Based on the totality of the circumstances, it is apparent Dalton was involved with the crime reported in this affidavit.”