QUARTZ HILL – A 44-year-old Quartz Hill man was arrested on suspicion of running a local chop shop after an auto-theft task force recovered three stolen classic vehicles from the man’s home.
Don Faison was arrested around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at his home in the 4600 block of West M-12, according to Sergeant Jess Corral of the Taskforce for Regional Auto Theft Prevention (T.R.A.P.).
TRAP detectives had previously served a search warrant at the Quartz Hill home on July 24, while acting on a tip about where classic stolen vehicles were being stored.
Detectives seized and impounded four cars during the raid, but Faison was not at the location at the time, Corral stated.
Three of the cars were identified as stolen, and their vehicle identification numbers had been changed to avoid detection. According to Corral:
- A 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air was stolen in May 2011 from the Santa Monica area;
- A 1960 Chevrolet Impala was stolen in April 2011 from the Monrovia area; and
- A 1958 Chevrolet Impala convertible was stolen in March 2007 from the Mission Hills area;
The ‘58 Chevy Impala was in better condition than before it was stolen, officials said.
In describing the unusual recovery, Corral stated: “The victim who was the original owner of a 1958 Chevrolet Impala which was stolen in March 2007, had no insurance for this vehicle at the time of theft. When the vehicle was located during this operation and returned to him, he found that the suspect(s) had completely restored his vehicle from the frame up. The vehicle had been repainted, new upholstery added, etc. In essence, his vehicle was returned in better condition than before it was stolen. This doesn’t occur very often and he is a lucky individual.”
Faison was booked at Van Nuys jail on Tuesday for Felony 10801 C.V.C. Operating a Chop Shop, authorities said. He was released that same day after posting bond, according to LASD inmate records.
He is due in court on Aug. 27 to face charges.
The Taskforce for Regional Auto Theft Prevention (TRAP) was established in 1993 under the direction of the Countywide Criminal Justice Coordination Committee (CCJCC) with the Sheriff designated as the Regional Coordinator. The TRAP West Team is comprised of investigators from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Los Angeles Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Glendale Police Department, Department of Motor Vehicles, and National Insurance Crime Bureau.
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Elaine de Bree says
You people who defend the thug who stole the cars need a moral compass. That ’58 Impala is my brother’s car and I KNOW how devastated he was when it was stolen. He bought that car when he was only 18 years old and HE PAID FOR IT with hard work. Try that yourselves, or don’t you know how to work? So you think Faison was going to return the cars, after changing the VIN’s? You’re pinheads. Join the real world.
T Adkins says
I just found out that police took all Mr. Faisons reciepts for all the parts he had purchased while restoring cars 58 that was inspected by CHP before it was able to be registered . It is now stollen how is that. Sounds ?????? Funny Police Going On With Ins Pushing the agenda
b mesta says
If the man did not have wrong intentions why were the vin #’s changed i’ve had my 1952 chevy stolen from me and there is no worse feeling for a true car lover who has worked hard for what he has!
Notagain says
WHO CARES ABOUT MR FAISON!! BOTTOM LINE, HE’S TRASH LIKE THE REST OF THE THUGS IN THE AV!!
HOPE YU GET A COUPLE OF YEARS IN PRISON!
ron artest says
How can you speak on [removed] you don’t know anything about once its all said in don the truth will be out and I hope you get what you deserve by these av thugs….
mannyman says
gotta know “All” the facts!!! people act big and brave on the internet…..”namecalling”…we will see soon enough…..
rudy mestaz says
my uncle donnys doesent have no chop shop he loves those cars he fixed them up an everything that’s his hobbie he likes to do that for fun I went to many of car shows withhim
sammy p says
Don Faison is innocent! He is in love with reality shows like “pimp my ride” and “overhaulin” and he just wanted to do the same thing to deserving people – so he stole classic cars and fixed them up- it just took him a while to give the cars back – He’s doing the upgrades by himself so a few years seems appropriate right?
I hope his arrest does not postpone his new reality show “I steal your car, fix it up and give it back to you eventually” (Wednesdays. right after Survivor on CBS)
sikntired says
LOL Sammy.
William says
Sammy, in this day and age, that almost sounds possible. We’ve heard crazier stuff by people who were serious.
BTW the 1958 and 1960 Chevy Impalas were 2 of my all time favorite classics and I’d hate to see them ever get hurt. I checked a couple of fully restored 1958 Impala convertibles that were being offered for over a $130,000. Not bad. I’d still love one if they were only worth $5,000.
mannyman says
Its not a chop shop…..it will all be figured out….its a bigger story calling it a “chop shop”….watch!
Jason Zink says
I have to ask a question if this is a “chop shop” why would the guy hold on to the vehicle’s for so many years? Why would he invest money in s stolen vehicle? And why are they not in pieces? Most chop shops would have the cars in parts in a day! Something doesn’t seem right???
sammy p says
ya ok – maybe the use of the term “chop shop” was a writers decision to get more interest in the story.. they do it on cnn.com all the time.
BIG CELEBRITY INVOLVED IN FENDER BENDER!!!! Turns out its Gary Busey.