Police arrest man accused of setting popular Webster restaurant on fire
WEBSTER, Mass. (WLNE) — A man has been arrested after being accused of setting a fire that destroyed a popular Webster restaurant and then trying to break into a couple of nearby businesses earlier this month.
Webster police said Joel Batista-Viera, 42, allegedly set the Wind Tiki Restaurant on fire.
Firefighters responded just before 2 a.m. on March 18 to the restaurant on Thompson Road. It took several hours for them to knock down the flames.
At about 7:30 a.m., police received a call that a nearby business had been broken into overnight.
Police responded to Mexicali Restaurant on Worcester Road. After reviewing surveillance footage, police said the suspect unsuccessfully tried to set the restaurant on fire.
A break-in was also attempted at Lake Pizza on Thompson Road, but the suspect was unable to enter the store.
Investigators reviewed surveillance from several businesses and identified the suspect as Batista-Viera.
Batista-Viera was arraigned Tuesday at Dudley District Court.
As a result of the Wind Tiki fire, Batista-Viera is being charged with breaking and entering, larceny, and arson.
He is also being charged with vandalizing property in the other two cases.
