Tulsi Gabbard’s older brother is accused of trying to entice several young children into a hotel room by offering them money and gum at a resort in Hawaii.
Batarti Gabbard, 55, the sibling of the former national intelligence director, was charged after what Honolulu police described as a “stranger danger incident” near a hotel pool in Waikīkī, the resort-heavy Honolulu neighborhood, on July 12, according to the Honolulu Police Department.
Authorities said the elder Gabbard allegedly approached the minors, including a 9-year-old boy, around 2 p.m. and offered them gum and money if they went with him to a room.
Police said he also asked the children for their names and wrote them down in a notebook.
The children all refused Gabbard’s alleged attempts before he walked away, officials said.
A 42-year-old woman later reported the alleged encounter to police.
Investigators identified Gabbard as the suspect in the “stranger danger” case and arrested him Friday.
He has been charged with second-degree custodial interference.
Gabbard, who suffered from mental health issues in the past, began spiraling in recent days after smoking pot, his father, state Sen. Mike Gabbard, said, according to KITV.
“Our oldest son Bhakti has had mental issues in the past but has been doing well for the last 10 years,” the eldest Gabbard said in a statement obtained by the outlet.
“Several days ago, he started acting erratically, as a result of smoking pot. His wife kicked him out of the house, so he’s been sleeping on the streets.
“He gave away his car to a homeless person; lost his ID and phone and has no money. He’s renamed himself, Batarti, and also Jim Morrison Jr., as he’s having delusions of being a rock star.
A family member brought Gabbard to a hospital for a psychological evaluation where he told doctors they would find “cocaine, ice and pot in his blood tests.”
He was placed on a 72-hour hold at Queen’s Hospital as officials monitor him, his parents said.
On Thursday, Gabbard was arrested for a separate theft incident.
He appeared in court Friday morning pleading not guilty to the theft charges, according to the outlet.
He is scheduled back in court for the theft charge on Aug. 14. No date has been set for the custodial interference case.
Tulsi Gabbard has not publicly commented on her brother’s arrest.
The former Hawaii representative resigned from her post as President Trump’s head of national intelligence in May after her husband, Abraham, was diagnosed with a extremely rare form of bone cancer.”
Bill Pulte has been serving as the acting Director of National Intelligence since June 19.
