Authorities Seek Help Finding Suspect

Lexington County Sheriff’s Department detectives are seeking help in finding a 19-year-old Columbia man who is wanted in connection with the robbery of a person on Nov. 19 at a motel on Burning Tree Road near Irmo.            

Lexington County Sheriff James Metts said detectives are searching for Arthur Rashad Ladia, 19, of 718 Isaac Street, Columbia. Ladia is 6 feet tall and weighs 180 pounds. Ladia has black hair and brown eyes.     

Ladia is wanted on charges of armed robbery, burglary, criminal conspiracy and possessing a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.    

Metts asked anyone with information concerning Ladia’s whereabouts or the robbery to contact the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department at (803) 785-8230 or CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC. Citizens also can provide information anonymously by accessing the Crime Tip link on the Sheriff’s Department web site. 

According to an incident export, Ladia, with the aid of an unknown female suspect and an unknown male suspect, robbed a visiting Nigerian citizen who had checked in with the female, whom he knew only as "China." According to the report, the female excused herself from the motel room momentarily, leaving the door ajar for Ladia and the other suspect to allegedly enter and rob the guest. 

After the robbery, the suspects then sped away in a gold Nissan Sentra, bearing S.C. tag FHB-659, traveling on Burning Tree Road toward Bush River Road.

The victim, who was robbed at gunpoint, was not hurt. However, Ladia and his unidentified cohorts are alleged to have stolen $4,000 cash and nine iPhone 4s the victim said he had purchased to take back home with him.