Gabbard's Brother Accused of Trying to Lure Children

A relative of a prominent Hawaii political family is facing charges after an alleged "stranger danger" encounter at a Waikiki hotel pool. Police say Batarti Gabbard, 55, older brother of former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, was arrested Friday and charged with second-degree custodial interference, Hawaii News Now reports. Honolulu police allege Gabbard approached several children, including a 9-year-old boy, around 2pm on July 12, offering gum and money and asking them to come to his hotel room.

Witnesses told officers he asked for the children's names and wrote them in a notebook; the kids declined and he left, according to police. No physical contact was reported. A 42-year-old woman called police. Gabbard was arrested and released earlier last week for a separate theft offense, KITV reports. Gabbard's father, Democratic state Sen. Mike Gabbard, told Hawaii News Now his son is experiencing a mental health crisis, has been using drugs, and was admitted Friday afternoon for a psychiatric evaluation.

• "Our oldest son Bhakti has had mental issues in the past but has been doing well for the last 10 years," the senator and his wife, Carol Gabbard, said in a statement. "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."