38-year-old New Bedford man held without bail after altercation allegedly turns deadly

A local man was in front of a judge on Monday after his neighbor died in a hospital.

According to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn, III, on Saturday, at approximately 11:30 p.m., New Bedford Police were dispatched to 162 Sawyer Street, a rooming house, for an altercation between neighbors. 

Upon arrival, police located 56-year-old Curtis Pina on the third-floor landing.  Pina, who resided at 162 Sawyer Street, was bleeding heavily from an injury to his forehead, allegedly from a bat.  He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased a few hours later.

Through an ongoing investigation led by the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office along with the New Bedford Police Department, 38-year-old Arirto Santiago of 162 Sawyer Street was arrested and charged with Assault and Battery by means a Dangerous Weapon. 

According to court records, at Monday’s arraignment in New Bedford District Court, Santiago pled not guilty and was held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for December 19th.