Batarti “Bhakti” Gabbard, the older brother of former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, has been arrested in Hawaii after police say he allegedly tried to lure several children into his hotel room by offering them money and chewing gum.
The Honolulu Police Department said the alleged incident occurred around 2 p.m. on July 12 at the pool area of a Waikīkī hotel. According to police, Gabbard, 55, approached several children, including a 9-year-old boy, and allegedly offered them gum and money if they would accompany him to his hotel room. Investigators said he also asked the children for their names and wrote them in a notebook after they refused. The children left the area safely, and an adult later reported the incident to police.
Charged with custodial interference
Police identified Gabbard as the suspect after he was arrested several days later in connection with a separate theft investigation. He was subsequently charged with second-degree custodial interference in connection with what police described as a “stranger danger” incident. He has pleaded not guilty.
Authorities have not accused him of physically harming any of the children, and no injuries were reported.
Family cites mental health crisis
In a statement released after the arrest, Gabbard’s parents, Hawaii state Sen. Mike Gabbard and his wife, Carol, said their son has been suffering from severe mental health problems.
They said he had recently been homeless, was experiencing delusions, lacked identification and a cellphone, and had exhibited increasingly erratic behavior. According to the family, he was taken to Queen’s Medical Center for a psychological evaluation and placed on a 72-hour psychiatric hold following his arrest.
Court records also show Batarti Gabbard’s wife sought a protective order against him shortly before the alleged hotel incident, citing increasingly bizarre behavior.
Tulsi Gabbard has not commented
Tulsi Gabbard has not publicly commented on her brother’s arrest.
The criminal case remains under investigation, and prosecutors have not announced any additional charges.
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