Police Arrest Trio In Connection With Operation Of Chop Shop At Birchwood

Police have arrested three people in connection with the operation of a "chop shop" at Birchwood.

Facing numerous charges are Michael Eugene Robinson, 43; Tabitha Lynn (Holder) Robinson, 34, and Justin Holder, 31. They were residing at 7498 Rabbit Lane.

The investigation started when Deputy Brandon Bennett stopped a Dodge Ram driven by Ms. Robinson in the 11800 block of Dolly Pond Road for a registration violation. Michael Robinson was in the vehicle.

Deputy Bennett recognized that the tag did not belong on the vehicle and was the same tag that had recently been displayed on a maroon and gray Dodge Ram that eluded police during a pursuit. The deputy had been informed that Michael Robinson may have been involved in recent vehicle thefts.

He also noticed that the door on the truck was maroon, while the rest of the truck was black. The VIN plate had also been removed. Deputy Bennett had the vehicle towed, and he asked to search the couple's residence.

At the Rabbit Lane residence, he located a stolen maroon Dodge Ram that had been stolen in Chattanooga. The Dodge had been stripped and the VIN plate removed. Also, a 2008 Nissan Titan was found in the front yard burned and stripped. The vehicle had most of the VIN plates popped off. However, one was located. That vehicle had been stolen in the county on Feb. 2.

Robinson was interviewed, and he said he knew that the vehicles were stolen and he had participated in stripping them. He admitted that the Nissan was burned after it was taken to his property. He admitted to taking a door off one Dodge Ram and putting it on the vehicle that was stopped by the deputy.

Authorities said Justin Holder was at the property when they arrived, but he was allowed to go after he said he was just visiting. It was later found that he had snuck back onto the property and he was located in a bedroom.

Inside, police found a printer and a large amount of counterfeit currency. Numerous car radios with their wires cut were also inside. Personal item and clothing belonging to Justin Holder were found at the residence.

All three were charged with violations of the Chop Shop Act of 2000, theft over $1,000 for the stolen Dodge Ram, theft over $10,000 for the stolen Nissan, setting fire to personal property, altering a serial number, and criminal simulation for the counterfeit currency.

Robinson has an extensive criminal record. In 2002, he got a 20-year prison sentence for several aggravated robberies. That was overturned on a post conviction appeal in 2004 and he was re-sentenced to 12 years in prison.