A 58-year-old man, Chiu Lee Moy, has been charged with attempted arson after he allegedly launched Molotov cocktails at The Broadwalk Restaurant & Grill in Hollywood Beach. As Local 10 News reported, the first incident occurred on June 24, when a firebomb made from a Bud Light bottle was hurled towards the establishment, fortunately causing no structural damage or injuries.
The Hollywood Police captured surveillance footage of the incident, but it did not result in any concrete leads immediately. Moy, who was arrested at his home on Johnson Street, less than a mile from The Broadwalk Restaurant, faces two counts each of second-degree arson and possessing and discharging a destructive device. Within the same week, on Aug. 13, officers found themselves responding to another Molotov cocktail incident at the same business as NBC Miami details, with the back of the building being similarly targeted around 4:55 a.m., resulting in no injuries.
Moy was taken into custody on Wednesday, and the judge has since set his bond at $90,000. Following his court appearance, Moy is now required to wear a GPS monitor and is restricted from having firearms, weapons, ammunition, or any accelerants. Broadwalk Restaurant employee Kelly Henderson expressed relief to Local 10 News, saying, "When it happened we were concerned that he might come inside," adding, "I'm glad he's caught," as reported by Local 10.
Court records indicate Moy has a history of previous traffic infractions but no violent crimes. He has reportedly been a resident of Hollywood for several decades. The arrested suspect's vehicle was also seized, pending a search warrant. As the investigation deepened, police reported on the linkage between video evidence, Moy's cell phone, and license plate data, which provided probable cause for his arrest. Moreover, an additional Molotov cocktail incident had occurred approximately one block from Moy's registered address, although he is not being charged for that incident, while another one was thrown at the front of a residence, as revealed by the NBC Miami report.
Despite these charges and the recent arrest, the motive behind Moy's alleged actions remains a mystery. Officers at the scene reported that the only damages from the first attack included a charred yellow mop bucket and a small pipe, without reporting any other significant damage. As further details are expected to emerge, Moy awaits the legal process stemming from his alleged attempts to set fire to The Broadwalk Restaurant.
