Another take on the "Buster" story

[pjayer]

Hope to NOT run into Buster while we're there!

Recent post on "another" forum:

11:57am Jun 30, 2008 EST
We just returned from St. John. Had a very scary experience with a local. We were in 2 cars (4 couples), other car pulled over to wait for us in public parking lot (approx 2 minutes) when local man pulled in and startd yelling obscenities at us and coming towards us in car. Couple in other car pulled up beside us to see where we were going when local puled out large knife and coming towards us. This all happened in just a few minutes. We immediately left going to restaurant. Once we got seated at restaurant the local had followed us. We were seated right on street. He got out of his vehicle once again yelling obscenities at us waving his knife. Others in restaurant wanted to know what was going on. Local went around his vehicle and pulled out gun aiming it into restaurant while waving knife. Every one ran. Owner called police which never showed up. Owner ended up closing reestaurant as he was scared of "Buster". He told us we should be scared of "Buster" also. He would follow us again. Police never did show up. We were really freightened. I will personally never go to St. John again. I don't want to be in a place that I do not feel safe and the police will not assist you in any manner.

[cptnkirk]

Holy Crap I would have soiled myself are the police really that useless on St John. Hope that doesn't happen often Word travels quik in the internet age that could hurt tourism if the police let that crap go on and don't even respond.

[martini girl]

okay, what's the real story on Buster? I've been reading this board for two years and only recently have heard anything about Buster. Have seen Luna and Lindy, but never anyone with a machete and/or gun. Sounds a bit scary. Can anyone shed some light on this character??

[pjayer]

okay, what's the real story on Buster? I've been reading this board for two years and only recently have heard anything about Buster. Have seen Luna and Lindy, but never anyone with a machete and/or gun. Sounds a bit scary. Can anyone shed some light on this character??

martini girl: Gavinman witnessed this and it is included in his trip report. http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... php?t=7840
Of course, the "other formum" poster mentions nothing about getting into an earlier altercation with Buster at a bar.

Chrisn's right. It's not funny, but the way gavinman tells it is funny. "Mmmmm...cheesecake"

[ShipwreckPat]

Has anyone ever spent the day in the hot sun in Cruz Bay during Carnival week drinking cognac with there buddies all day before? That sentence explains, not excuses Buster's behavior. For the record, he has
repented and apologized to
both Dennis and myself and wished he could do the same to those that witnessed his actions. He claims to not even remember the event but has been questioned by locals so he knows it is true. As far as fearing him, I think we could all agree that anyone toting a gun should be feared, sorry all you NRA folks.

I am very sorry that this event has tainted anyone's taste for our beautiful Paradise but do you watch your local news? Saying that you will never return here makes me ask if you plan on moving out of your town, county or state when you see a nasty news story! It was an isolated and extremely unusual situation. I will apologize to all that were effected and assure you that Buster was just plain ol drunk. Some folks get silly, some lovey dovey, some touchy feely and some just get plain mean when they over do it. Bet you all know someone that reacts to alcohol that way. Again, I am sorry that anyone's night was ruined by this and hope that you can see it as a one time only event.

[cptnkirk]

To me it's not the guys actions that concerns me because that sort of thing happens everywhere even in our little hicksville here in Ohio. The problem is if no police responded to that sort of thing they have a problem. Pointing a gun into a place saying I'm going to kill you should be responded to. The guy should be sitting in jail for awhile so next time he may think a little harder before doing dumb $hit like that.

[bayer40601]

The reported lack of public safety response is the most troubling aspect of this entire report. It seems someone ought to be able to be able to convince the police it is in the best interest of them as well as visitors to make sure matters such as this do not get out of hand, or too frequent.

[Xislandgirl]

Thanks for the reply Pat.

Those of us that have lived or live on island have all experienced some sort of odd or even scary event such as this. When you know the person you tend to view the situation a little differently. You don't make excuses for the actions or dismiss the feelings of those affected but you understand.

It is easy for us to blame the VIPD for lack of response and I think that many residents would do the same, but there are bad cops everywhere, not just STJ. I can not turn on the local news without a new story about CT cops that are stealing drugs from dealers but not arresting them or spending police dept time and money on prostitutes.

[silverheels]

X- Sounds like my kind of town on the lovely shoreline!!!

[Xislandgirl]

X- Sounds like my kind of town on the lovely shoreline!!!

I was hoping that you would catch that!

[California Girl]

Saying that you will never return here makes me ask if you plan on moving out of your town, county or state when you see a nasty news story! It was an isolated and extremely unusual situation.

I wouldn't blame the restaurant or anyone but Buster. I'm positive that I'd be peeing my pants in the same situation, but I wouldn't say I'm not going back to a place because of it. If that were the case I wouldn't go into half of the banks, post offices or McDonalds that I go into in my daily life.

I agree that it's sad that there was no police response, but I think as a "local" you come to expect that kind of thing. The tourist who posted this on the other forum is outraged that no one came and put up yellow tape and arrested the guy, but that is because they are applying their rules to an island situation. When in Rome....

[bayer40601]

All of our locales have their share of different people, but my little corner of the world is not considered to be "paradise." It is altogether possible that the posted report is in error, but if it's not then it is concerning to some of us, despite our obvious love of STJ.

[jectac]

Xislandgirl,

While I understand what you are saying, I have to disagree. I find it in no way understandable to have a man yielding a gun at people because I know them on a personal basis. This man should have been arrested for yielding a firearm, terroristic threats and almost causing a catastrophe, no matter who he is. Island Local or Statesider.

I do agree with you in regards to there being “bad police” everywhere. However, the total lack of response by the VIPD is NOT acceptable. You mean to tell me that there is not one good cop, who does their job, in the whole department? I agree that if you watch the local news, there is much more rampant crime in small communities than there is on St John. My husband has been a police officer for 22 years, and his father is a judge, so I have first hand knowledge of the crap that goes on in our community. But the fact of no response has me the most concerned.

Please do not take this as a “slam”. I enjoy your posts on the forum and this is meant in the nicest of ways. I just disagree and find the whole incident upsetting that this happened in our paradise.

[nothintolose]

The "Buster incident" in no way will deter me from going back to STJ.

I wouldn't try to defend it, but all I will say is that there are too many other beautiful things that happen on STJ to keep me from wanting to go back.

Besides, we all know that the bad news is what gets covered so much more than the good things.

[pjayer]

When I made my original post, it was not intended to discourage anyone from visiing STJ or the restaurant where this incident occurred. I would have never posted it if it had not already been reported by gavinman in his trip report. These kinds of things happen everywhere, and we would be naive or blind to assume otherwise.

STJ and the VIs are magical places filled with natural beauty and wonderful people, and we hope to visit as often as possible. Shipwreck Landing gets great reviews, and we plan on eating there this year. (We’ll probably wear our “We Love Buster” t-shirts, just in case. )

Having said all that and IMHO, I really don’t think it’s too much to expect a prompt response by any police department anywhere in the US or a US territory when a report comes in that someone is threatening to hurt or kill others and has a weapon(s).

An ‘dats all I’m sayin’ ‘bout ‘dat!

Looking forward to limin’ in da sun soon. Thirteen days and counting!

Peace,
pj