For Immediate Release June 18, 2009                                  
Contact: Corey Welford/Jessica Venezia 781-897-8325

Cambridge Man Arrested On Assault, Intimidation Of Witness Charges In Connection With Tuesday’s Cambridge Homicide

CAMBRIDGE – A Cambridge Man was arrested last evening on charges of assault and intimidation of a witness in connection with Tuesday’s homicide in Cambridge, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone and Cambridge Police Commissioner Robert Haas announced today.

Edwin Alvarado, age 22, of Cambridge, was arrested at approximately 7:15 p.m. yesterday on charges of assault and battery and intimidation of a witness.

He will be arraigned this morning in Cambridge District Court, 4040 Mystic Valley Parkway, Medford.

“We allege that this defendant beat and threatened a witness to prevent him from cooperating with our ongoing homicide investigation,” District Attorney Leone said. “We will prosecute any person who interferes with this investigation by threatening witnesses or being untruthful in their statements to police.”

According to authorities, on Tuesday, June 16, at approximately 3:06 a.m., Cambridge Police responded to reports of shots fired near Russell Field. When they arrived, they discovered the victim, Jason Ellcock, 33, of Malden, lying in the driveway of the Fresh Pond Apartments, 362 Rindge Avenue, Cambridge. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene of an apparent gunshot wound.

Cambridge Police and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office are conducting an investigation into the circumstances of the shooting. No arrests have been made at this time.

During the course of the investigation, detectives have identified a witness who has provided information relating to Jason Ellcock’s death.  The witness will hereinafter be referred to as John Doe.

It is alleged that Alvarado, who was known to the witness, learned that John Doe had provided information to authorities. Alvarado then called the witness and asked him to meet outside a home on Rindge Avenue. When John Doe met him at approximately 4 p.m. yesterday, Alvarado slapped him twice in the face and threatened that he should not continue to provide information regarding the investigation.

John Doe contacted authorities at approximately 4:15 p.m. yesterday to report the incident. At approximately 7:15 p.m. yesterday, Cambridge Police found Alvarado in the area of 3 Jefferson Park, Cambridge, and placed him under arrest.

These charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The prosecutors assigned to this case are Assistant District Attorneys John Verner and Melinda Thompson. The prosecutor handling today’s arraignment is Melinda Thompson. The victim witness advocate in this case is Helena Clarke. The case is being investigated by Cambridge Police and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.

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