Melchor resident claims to be owner of stolen vehicle

Police are providing details on a scuffle near the Belize/Guatemala Border around eleven o’clock on Friday morning.  There was an altercation between Benque Viejo Police and a group of Guatemalan nationals over a vehicle that is believed to be stolen.  The pickup, a red Mitsubishi L-200 double cab, was parked adjacent to the OIRSA office on the Belizean side of the border.  Upon confirming that the vehicle was indeed on Belizean soil, Superintendent Ralph Moody requested the assistance of a tow truck.  In attempting to remove the pickup, a woman, identified only as Ana, believed to be a resident of neighboring Champon, claimed ownership; however, when asked to produce the necessary legal documents she told police that they were being processed in Guatemala.  Another resident, identified only as Loquillo, then tried to stop the vehicle from being towed by parking a van in its path.  Guns were reportedly drawn before a contingent of six Guatemalan police officers arrived on the scene.  The vehicle was impounded by the Customs Department pending verification and proof of ownership despite Ana’s claim that it was given to her by her father-in-law as a gift.  Upon further inspection it was also discovered that the Vehicle Identification Number had been tampered with.  An initial investigation revealed that on May 22nd four men arrived at the Western Border in the vehicle where they proceeded to remove the license plates before departing.