Rival Gang Members Make Peace in Court

Members of rival Belize City gangs called a truce in court earlier today after they chose not to proceed with criminal charges against each other.  Esmir Garrido, a convicted member of the Rocky Road Bloods, is accused of attacking and stabbing thirty-five-year-old Hilberto Ruiz on Wednesday morning in the vicinity of Krooman Lagoon.  The incident arose out of a dispute between both men over damages caused to a vehicle belonging to another individual.  Ruiz, is a member of the Normandee Locos Salvatrucha, an offshoot of the MS-13 gang.  He was recently charged with being a member of gang.  But today in court, both men withdrew charges against each other when they were read a single count each for aggravated assault with a knife. The men then made peace with each other.