Mental evaluation ordered: Man accused of attempting to set fire to Super China Buffet

MOUNT PLEASANT (WITI) -- 38-year-old Hermelindo Guevara-Castillo -- a homeless man from Racine, charged in connection with an incident in which he attempted to set fire to the Super China Buffet in Mount Pleasant -- will undergo a mental evaluation.

Guevara-Castillo appeared in court on Wednesday, June 4th -- where it was ordered he undergo the mental evaluation.

According to the criminal complaint against him, charging him with one count of attempted arson, on Saturday, May 24th, Mount Pleasant police officers were dispatched to the Super China Buffet on Washington Avenue.

There, they spoke with the owner of the restaurant, who told police he had just fired Guevara-Castillo and worried about retaliation from him.

The complaint says the owner came back to his business on Sunday morning.

The owner told police he saw Guevara-Castillo "dumping fryer oil all over the back door of his business and the steps to his business." The restaurant was not open at the time -- and there was no one else in the area.

The complaint indicates the owner confronted Guevara-Castillo, who told him "he was going to light the grease in the soaked boxes" on fire.

Guevara-Castillo then apparently left the area on a bicycle.

When police found Guevara-Castillo, he had cooking oil all over both of his shoes, as well as on his hands and pants.

A lighter was also found on Guevara-Castillo.

As an officer was putting handcuffs on Guevara-Castillo, he started yelling at the restaurant owner. He was swearing and stated a racial slur.

Guevara-Castillo is due back in court on July 11th.