District Attorney Sam Sutter announced that Jose Carrion, arrested Sunday in connection to the ongoing investigation into the homicide of 33-year-old Melvin Pina early Saturday morning in New Bedford, was ordered held on $100,000 cash bail during his arraignment in New Bedford District Court today.

Mr. Carrion, 26, of New Bedford, is currently charged with assault and battery, and the obstruction of justice portion of the witness intimidation statute. Mr. Carrion is due back in court for a pretrial hearing on April 17th.

Co-First Assistant District Attorney William McCauley handled the arraignment for District Attorney Sutter’s office. McCauley told the court that police received a 911 call from a Bates Street resident shortly after 7:30 a.m. Saturday regarding an unresponsive male lying in the backyard of 73 Bates St. When police and paramedics arrived moments later, they discovered Mr. Pina was already deceased.

The investigation by Homicide Unit prosecutors, New Bedford Police detectives and Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to this office began immediately. McCauley told the court today that investigators learned the victim had attended a dance party at a nearby warehouse during the overnight hours Saturday morning. During the course of the investigation, detectives learned that Mr. Carrion allegedly punched Mr. Pina twice in the face after Mr. Pina apparently spilled a drink. When questioned about the incident, Mr. Carrion allegedly misled and lied to police and prosecutors.



McCauley also informed the court that police found a knife, along with bloody clothes, at Mr. Carrion’s home this weekend during the execution of a search warrant. Those items have been sent to the State Crime Lab for testing, McCauley added.



As the investigation remains active and ongoing, no further information can be disseminated at this time.