Joel Batista-Viera Arrested In Connection With Fire At Wind Tiki Restaurant In Webster

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WEBSTER (CBS) – A man has been arrested in connection with a fire that gutted a restaurant in Webster earlier this month. Police say 42-year-old Joel Batista-Viera of Webster is being charged with burning the Wind Tiki restaurant and that he also tried to start a fire at a different restaurant.

Batista-Viera turned himself in to police but pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Tuesday. He's being held on a $25,000 cash bail.

On March 18, police and fire crews responded to the Wind Tiki restaurant around 2 a.m. to find heavy smoke coming from the business. A police officer discovered rolled and loose change outside the restaurant's back door, which was unlocked. Firefighters spent hours getting the flames under control.

The fire at the Wind Tiki restaurant in Webster, March 18, 2022. (Photo credit: Webster Fire/Rescue Massachusetts Facebook)

Around 7:30 a.m., police were called to the Mexicali Restaurant on Worcester Road, about a mile away from the Wind Tiki. An employee reported the business had been broken into overnight. Though the surveillance system was damaged, police were able to recover the footage which revealed the suspect had tried to start a fire in the restaurant.

During the investigation, an attempted break-in at Lake Pizza on Thompson Road was reported from the same night. Surveillance video of the incident showed the suspect wasn't able to get inside, police said.

Officers collected surveillance footage from multiple businesses along Thompson Road. Investigators discovered a man at the Mobil gas station on Thompson Road at the time the Wind Tiki was on fire, matched the suspect seen on camera in the Mexicali break-in and at Lake Pizza. A photo was released to the public and the man was identified as Batista-Viera, police said.

Joel Batista-Viera in court on Tuesday (WBZ-TV)

"[Officers] attempted to locate him, through those efforts he arrived here Monday morning and he was placed into custody," said Police Chief Michael Shaw. "We have a very good timeline that follows his path from Mexicali to Lake Pizza in the area of Lake Tiki. "

Batista-Viera faces multiple charges in connection with the three incidents including burning a building, two counts of breaking and entering into a building in the nighttime with the intent to commit a felony, two counts of larceny from a building, and attempting to burn a building.

Police said they believe Batista-Viera is connected to break-ins dating back to fall 2021 and anticipate more charges will be filed.