Man Indicted On Arson Charge After Wind Tiki Fire

WEBSTER, MA — A grand jury has indicted a Webster man on a raft of charges connected to the March fire that destroyed the Wind Tiki restaurant, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr.

Joel Batista-Viera, 42, is facing 14 charges, including arson, five counts of breaking and entering to commit a felony, two counts of larceny, two counts of vandalism and four counts of breaking into a depository.

According to Early's office, Batista-Viera was caught on surveillance camera attempting to break in to several restaurants near Wind Tiki on March 18 — and tried to start a fire in the Mexicali Mexican Grill restaurant. He was initially arrested on March 29.

The Wind Tiki fire broke out around 2 a.m. on March 18. No one was inside the restaurant when the fire started. Wind Tiki opened in 1974 along Route 193, but its building was home to other restaurants at the edge of Lake Chaubunagungamaug before that. It has remained closed since the fire.

Batista-Viera will be arraigned on Aug. 24.