Man charged with stealing car. But he tells cops it was a ‘rock rental’

A 32-year-old homeless Bradenton man was arrested Saturday and charged with driving a stolen car he said was traded for drugs, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

Jeremy Ignatowski said this wasn’t his first time doing a “rock rental,” which can be defined as a transaction where a car is loaned in exchange for cocaine or other drugs, according to slang glossary Urban Dictionary.

When he was pulled over around 7:35 p.m. in the 1300 block of 57th Avenue East, Ignatowski told the deputy that he paid $100 for the car that he knew wasn’t his. He had been driving the car around all night Friday and most of that day, but he said he didn’t know who he bought it from, according to the sheriff’s office.

Although “rock rentals” are colloquially defined as cars traded for drugs, there weren’t any drugs found on Ignatowski, according to the sheriff’s office. Spokesman Dave Bristow said the rentals are legitimate but the renters are believed to be involved in drug sales. Ignatowski has previous arrests in Manatee and Sarasota counties for motor vehicle theft from 2008.

Ignatowski, who also is charged with driving with a suspended license, is being held at the Manatee County jail on bonds totaling $2,000.

This story was originally published May 9, 2017 at 8:20 AM with the headline "Man charged with stealing car. But he tells cops it was a ‘rock rental’."