fire

Man Indicted for Arson in Fire at Wind Tiki Restaurant in Webster

Joel Batista-Viera, 42, of Webster, was indicted on 14 charges by a Worcester County Grand Jury on Friday. The charges include arson, breaking and entering and vandalism

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A man has been indicted in connection with a fire that destroyed the Wind Tiki restaurant in March, a popular spot for Chinese food in Webster, Massachusetts.

Joel Batista-Viera, 42, of Webster, was indicted on 14 charges by a Worcester County Grand Jury on Friday. The charges include arson, breaking and entering and vandalism, according to the Worcester County District Attorney's office.

Batista-Viera was previously arrested on break-in charges in the case.

The fire at Wind Tiki started on Thompson Road early in the morning on March 18. Firefighters from multiple towns spent hours trying to put it out. The restaurant had closed at 8:30 p.m. the night before, so no one was in the building at the time.

An arrest has been made in connection with a fire that destroyed the popular Wind Tiki restaurant in Webster earlier this month.

Batista-Viera is accused of targeting three restaurants in the same area in one night.

Police who responded to the fire found rolled coins and loose change near the back door.

Investigators say he also broke into Mexicali Cantina Grill, where he tried to access the cash registers and file cabinet. They say he tried to start a fire there with a candle.

The surveillance system was damaged, but video footage was able to be recovered and viewed remotely. After investigating the break-in at Mexicali, authorities returned to the scene of the Wind Tiki.

While they were there, another attempted break in was reported at Lake Pizza on Thompson Road, which also occurred the previous night. No entry was gained to the business, but detectives were able to recover surveillance footage.

Crews spent more than eight hours putting out hot spots, flames and thick smoke at the Wind Tiki restaurant in Webster, Massachusetts, but fire officials said it appears to be a total loss.

Those who live and work nearby said it was shocking to see a community staple all but destroyed in a matter of hours. The restaurant has been around for decades and is considered an institution.

When police arrived on scene, they found both rolled and loose change on the ground by the back door, which was unsecured. The evidence prompted an investigation by the Webster Police Detective Bureau, along with the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Investigators are working to determine what sparked a fire that destroyed Wind Tiki, a popular Webster eatery.

Over the next few days, detectives collected surveillance video from several businesses in the area. The same man could be seen at the Mobil gas station on Thompson Road when the Wind Tiki was on fire, at Mexicali and at Lake Pizza. 

Batista-Viera is scheduled for arraignment on August 24.

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