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'Special wax' offer is a scam, Clearwater police say

 
Published Nov. 29, 2014

Rockie Demitro, 34

CLEARWATER — A 34-year-old man was arrested Wednesday on charges that he tried to scam another out of $300 for car repairs that he couldn't complete.

According to Clearwater police, Rockie Demitro's plan was to visit "high traffic" areas with tools and supplies and tell victims he could make car repairs that, in reality, he couldn't complete.

On Wednesday in the parking lot of a Michaels store on Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard, Demitro approached a man and said he could fix a dent in his car in 30 minutes for just $300 with a "special wax," an arrest affidavit shows.

The victim accepted. Demitro completed the wax job, but the dent remained.

A witness in the parking lot recognized Demitro from a similar scam that she was a victim of last year and called police.

Demitro admitted to officers that he knew what he was doing was illegal, but said this was his first time.

"The defendant is a self-described gypsy," an arrest affidavit states.

Demitro of Clearwater faces a charge of scheme to defraud.

He was booked into the Pinellas County jail, but was released Wednesday in lieu of $5,000 bail.