Tulsi Gabbard’s Brother Arrested On Custodial Interference Charges After Alleged Attempt To Lure Children Into Waikiki Hotel Room

Batari Gabbard, 55, the brother of former U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard, was arrested and charged on Friday with second-degree custodial interference after Honolulu police say he tried to persuade several children to go with him to a Waikiki hotel room.

According to the Honolulu Police Department, the encounter occurred about a week before the arrest. Officers allege Batari Gabbard offered gum and money to a group of children and asked for their names, recording them in a notebook. The group included a 9-year-old boy; the children refused and Batari Gabbard walked away, police say.

In a statement to HuffPost, Gabbard's parents, Hawaii state Senator Mike Gabbard and Carol Gabbard, said their son has a history of mental-health problems and has been acting erratically in recent days.

"Our oldest son Bhakti has had mental issues in the past but has been doing well for the last 10 years," the statement reads. "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."

Police say Batari Gabbard was placed on a 72-hour psychiatric hold at Queen's Hospital for evaluation, where staff will "continue to monitor him and decide next steps." In their statement to HuffPost, Mike and Carol Gabbard added that if their son is found guilty of custodial interference, he "should be punished to the full extent of the law."

These are allegations at this stage; the case remains subject to investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings.