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Arrest made after fire destroys Webster's popular Wind Tiki restaurant

Arrest made after fire destroys Webster's popular Wind Tiki restaurant
THE SUSPECT IS ACCUSED OF DOING THAT NIGHT. >> THIS MAN IS ACCUSED OF BREAKING IN, STEALING MONEY AND SETTING A FIRE OR TRNGYI TO TO COVER HIS TRACKS. POLICE SAY THE CRIME SPREE AND IT HERE AT A 48-YEAR-OLD TOWN LANDMARK RESTAURANT. WITH THE HELP OF AN INTERPRETER, JOEL BATISTA-VIERA LISTED NETO A NEARLY DOZEN CHARGES HE NOW FACES, INCLUDING BREAKING AND ENTERING AND ARSON IN CONNECONTI WITH THE INFERNO THAT DESTROYED AN ICONIC WEBSTER RESTAURANT EALIER THIS MOH.NT POLICE SAY EARLIER -- THAT SAME NIGHT, HE IS SEEN ON SURVEILLANCE VIDEO TRYING TO BREAK INTO A PIZZA PLACE AND FORCING HIS WAY INTO THIS CLOSED MEXICAN RESTAURANT WHERE HE ATTEMPTED TO USE A CANDLE TO START A FIRE. >> WE HAVE A GOOD TIMELINE THAT FOLLS HISOW PATH FROM MEXICALI TO LAKE PIZZA TO THE AREA OF THE WIND TIKI. I CAN’T SAY ENUF ABOUT THERE GAT POLICE WORK THAT WAS DONE BY THE DETECTIVES. >> POLICE SAY THE MAN SHOWS UP REPEATEDLY IN SURVEILLANCE VIDEO INCLUDING THIS MOBILE STATION WHERE HE CAN BE SEEN DROPPGIN A WHAT OF CASH OTHEN FLOOR AT THE SAME MOMENT FIRE CREWSRE A ARRIVING TWO DOORS DOWN. STLA FRIY,DA INVESTIGATORS POSTED HIS PICTURE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND STARTED LOOKING FOR HIM. YESTERDAY MORNING, THEURNED HIMSELF IN. >> HE DID ADMIT BNGEI AT THE AREA OF THE MEXICALI RESTAURANT, LAKE PIZZA AND HAVGIN BEEN IN THE PARKING LOT OF WIND TIKI PRIOR TO THE TIME OF THE FIRE. HE DENIED SETTING THE FIRE. >> AT LAST CHECK, HE IS STILL BEING H
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Arrest made after fire destroys Webster's popular Wind Tiki restaurant
A man was charged after a three-alarm fire destroyed a popular restaurant in Webster, Massachusetts, earlier this month.The fire destroyed the Wind Tiki Chinese restaurant at 154 Thompson Road on March 18.Police arrested Joel Batista-Viera, 42 of Webster, in connection with the fire and other commercial break-ins, police said Tuesday.Officials said several hours after the fire at the Wind Tiki, an employee from the Mexicali Restaurant at 41 Worcester Road reported that it had been broken into. Some evidence was discovered that indicated that building had been broken into sometime the previous night. Police said there was damage done to the surveillance system, however video surveillance footage was able to be recovered and viewed remotely. While inside, the suspect appeared to have tried to start a fire in that restaurant.As police were investigating the Wind Tiki fire, another attempted break-in was discovered at Lake Pizza at 39 Thompson Road that happened the previous night.No entry was gained into the business; however, surveillance footage was able to be recovered by detectives. Detectives were able to collect surveillance video from several establishments in the Thompson Road area. It was from this footage, that they were able to identify a man in the Mobil gas station on Thompson Road at the time the Wind Tiki was on fire. This man, later identified as Batista-Viera, was believed to be on the camera footage in the Mexicali break-in and attempted break-in at Lake Pizza. Batista-Viera was placed in custody and faced several charges including breaking and entering into a building in the nighttime with the intent to commit a felony, larceny from a building and burning a building. He was held on $25,000 bail.

A man was charged after a three-alarm fire destroyed a popular restaurant in Webster, Massachusetts, earlier this month.

The fire destroyed the Wind Tiki Chinese restaurant at 154 Thompson Road on March 18.

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Police arrested Joel Batista-Viera, 42 of Webster, in connection with the fire and other commercial break-ins, police said Tuesday.

Officials said several hours after the fire at the Wind Tiki, an employee from the Mexicali Restaurant at 41 Worcester Road reported that it had been broken into.

Some evidence was discovered that indicated that building had been broken into sometime the previous night. Police said there was damage done to the surveillance system, however video surveillance footage was able to be recovered and viewed remotely. While inside, the suspect appeared to have tried to start a fire in that restaurant.

As police were investigating the Wind Tiki fire, another attempted break-in was discovered at Lake Pizza at 39 Thompson Road that happened the previous night.

No entry was gained into the business; however, surveillance footage was able to be recovered by detectives.

Detectives were able to collect surveillance video from several establishments in the Thompson Road area. It was from this footage, that they were able to identify a man in the Mobil gas station on Thompson Road at the time the Wind Tiki was on fire.

This man, later identified as Batista-Viera, was believed to be on the camera footage in the Mexicali break-in and attempted break-in at Lake Pizza.

Batista-Viera was placed in custody and faced several charges including breaking and entering into a building in the nighttime with the intent to commit a felony, larceny from a building and burning a building. He was held on $25,000 bail.