It was the third week in September 1998, a hurricane watch was in effect. The staff had already left, only one couple was at the resort. Don and Jill from Florida had gone to bed early. Robby and I lie watching TV when we heard an boat and a propeller airplane. Robby got up, looked out the front door, looked at me and said "Come see!"
Flood lights shined over the water from the Bannister porch, a boat was approaching the Bannister property. The plane had turned toward the airport.
Robby said, "I'm calling Inspector Dean."
I questioned, why Dean and not the DEA? . He said, " Let Steve have the bust." Robby made the call and Inspector Dean said he would check it out. The phone rang early the next morning. It was Inspector Dean, he advised Robby that the plane and boat we had heard last night was a joint operation between the Cat Island police and the DEA.
Robby got off the phone and relayed to me Inspector Deans comments, we both looked at each other we knew it was a lie. Even I knew that the DEA did not have propeller airplanes in the Bahamas. Robby put in a call to Toni Purvis Teresi, the DEA Country Attaché at the time. She was not available. but returned Robby's call shortly.
Robby relayed the story to Ms. Teresi, but her response was short. "The DEA does not have any planes in the Bahamas.
She explained that they had sent them all back to the U. S. because of the hurricane threat. Ms. Teresi disclosed to Robby, " I thought I could trust Inspector Dean, but maybe not. I think I will watch him more closely in the future."
Robby had met Ms. Teresi when she was visiting the island. Inspector Dean had called and asked if he could bring her to lunch.
Don and Jill had also observed the boats and action from their villa room which looked directly toward the Bannister property. They commented the next morning at breakfast about observing the drug operation. Although they had been to Cutlass Bay several times in the past. They did not return after their 1998 visit.
Robby had considered Inspector Dean an honest policeman and a friend. He would never feel the same about him again. When he was told in May of 2000 by another police officer on Cat Island, that Dean not Sergeant Stubbs was responsible for the January 1999 charges, he again felt betrayed.