On Friday afternoon, former DNI Tulsi Gabbard’s older brother was arrested and charged after a disturbing “stranger danger” incident in Hawaii.
Allegedly, 55-year-old Bhakti Gabbard, who now goes by the name “Batarti,” tried to lure several young children to his Waikiki hotel room, where he was staying last Sunday.
He has been charged with custodial interference in the second degree.
The Honolulu Police released this statement:
Through investigation, the suspect was positively identified. On 7-17-26, Batarti Gabbard was arrested and charged with Custodial Interference in the Second Degree. pic.twitter.com/Bq08EUfL9o
— Honolulu Police (@honolulupolice) July 17, 2026
The Honolulu Star Advertiser shared more details on the incident that led to his arrest:
On Sunday, police opened an investigation after receiving a report of a stranger danger incident in at a Waikiki hotel. At about 2 p.m., an unknown man allegedly approached several children, including a 9-year-old boy, and offered them gum and money to accompany him to his hotel room, according to the Honolulu Police Department. HPD did not identify the hotel.
He allegedly asked the children for their names and wrote them in a notebook. After the children refused his offer of gum and money, the man walked away, police said.
This isn’t Bhakti Gabbard’s first time in trouble with the law.
Just one day before his arrest, he was detained for a separate theft offense.
The Gabbards’ father, State Sen. Mike Gabbard, said that his son struggles with drug addiction and his mental health.
He checked into a psychiatric hospital after being released from custody.
KITV has more:
Gabbard was arrested the day prior, Thursday, July 16, for a separate theft offense.
Gabbard appeared in court on Friday morning where he pleaded not guilty to the theft. He was released and is scheduled to appear in court again for the theft offense on Aug. 14, 2026.
Regarding the custodial interference offense, there is no court date set at this time.
Senator Mike Gabbard and Carol Gabbard released this statement:
“Our oldest son Bhakti has had mental issues in the past but has been doing well for the last 10 years. 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.
“This afternoon, a family member took him to Queen’s Hospital ER to have a psychological evaluation. Bhakti told the doctor they would find cocaine, ice and pot in his blood tests. And this evening, he was admitted for a 72-hour hold at Queen’s, while they continue to monitor him and decide next steps.”
Hawaii News Now covered the story further in this clip:
Batarti Gabbard, the suspect identified in Sunday’s Waikīkī stranger danger case, is the brother of former national intelligence director and former Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. State Sen. Mike Gabbard told Hawaii News Now his son was admitted to a hospital for a… pic.twitter.com/vIgr0N6sxP
— Hawaii News Now (@HawaiiNewsNow) July 18, 2026
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