On Monday, Seth Gardner was arrested for the robbery of the Swifty gas station, located at 899 Ashland Road.
The robbery occurred on March 2 at 9 p.m. That night, Gardner approached the clerk and asked to use the bathroom key. When the clerk returned with the key, the door was open and Gardner held a knife to the clerk’s chest/throat area.
Gardner ordered the clerk inside and demanded that the clerk give him any money. Gardner obtained cash and fled on foot. A K-9 track was completed; however, Gardner’s location was lost on the roadway.
On March 4, the Richland County Sheriff’s Office received a tip from a county resident as to a possible suspect. Detectives followed up on the tip and developed information and evidence that led to the identification and probable cause that Seth Gardner was involved in the Swifty robbery.
The prosecutor’s office was consulted with the details of the investigation and advised to complete a warrant for his arrest.
On March 10, Gardner was located and arrested at the Budget Inn (1336 State Route 42) by officers of the U.S. Marshal’s Office. Gardner is charged with aggravated robbery.
The room was searched and evidence seized. A truck used by Gardner was searched and various items were also seized.