Batarti Gabbard was connected to an alleged incident at a Waikīkī hotel pool on July 12 and was separately arrested on July 16 on an unrelated theft allegation, local reporting and police statements show. Prosecutors later filed a charge of second-degree custodial interference tied to the July 12 pool incident, according to Fox News Digital.
What police say happened at the Waikīkī hotel
Honolulu police say the pool-area incident occurred about 2 p.m. on July 12 at a Waikīkī hotel. According to the department’s account reported by news outlets, an adult man approached several children at the pool, asked their names, wrote names in a notebook and offered money or gum in a bid to get them to accompany him to a hotel room.
Police accounts referenced a 9-year-old boy among the children the man reportedly approached. Investigators say the children refused and the man walked away. A 42-year-old woman later reported the interaction to police, prompting a formal inquiry, the Honolulu Police Department told reporters.
Charges, arrests and court dates for Batarti Gabbard
Fox News Digital reported that Batarti Gabbard was charged with second-degree custodial interference in connection with the July 12 pool incident. The charge remains an allegation; no determination of guilt has been made in court.
Separately, KITV reported that Gabbard was arrested on July 16 on a theft charge, pleaded not guilty and was released. KITV reported a district court date of Aug. 14 for the theft case. The custodial interference charge did not have a court date as of the latest reporting; Fox News Digital and the Honolulu Police Department said no date had been set for that charge.
Honolulu Police told Fox News Digital that Gabbard is not in custody at this time. The custodial interference allegation remains an open charge that will be addressed through the court process, and scheduled hearings or filings should be confirmed via official court records and prosecutor statements.
Family statement and medical treatment
Fox News Digital obtained a statement from Gabbard’s father, Hawaii state Sen. Mike Gabbard. In the statement, Mike Gabbard declined to discuss the details of the police allegations but said his son is continuing to receive medical and psychiatric treatment.
“We love him, and asked him to follow the protocol at the hospital, which he says he will do,” Mike Gabbard told Fox News Digital. “We’re praying for his speedy recovery, and would appreciate the prayers of others.” The family framed the account as a request for privacy and support.
The family’s description of ongoing care is their account and has not been independently verified by police or hospital officials. Medical and psychiatric information is sensitive, and reporters noted the family’s request for privacy in the disclosure.
Public safety response and police status
The Honolulu Police Department handled the initial investigation after receiving the report from a witness. Police described the incident publicly as a concern for children’s safety and referred questions about charging decisions to prosecutors and to available court filings.
Authorities emphasized that the matter remains allegations pending legal proceedings. At the time of the most recent reporting, Honolulu police confirmed Gabbard was no longer in custody and that no custodial interference court date had been set.
Source details and what comes next
This report is based on Fox News Digital and KITV reporting and on statements provided to those outlets by the Honolulu Police Department and Gabbard’s family. KITV reported the July 16 theft arrest and the Aug. 14 district court date for that separate case. Fox News Digital reported the custodial interference charge and obtained the family statement; Fox News Digital and the Honolulu Police Department reported that no court date had been set for the custodial interference charge as of publication.
What comes next: prosecutors or court clerks will schedule any arraignment or initial hearing for the custodial interference charge; public court records and filings will show the dates and specific charges. News outlets will update reporting as official documents and court dockets become available.
Reporting will rely on official court records, prosecutor statements and Honolulu Police Department releases for confirmation of dates, filings and case outcomes.
Source: Reporting from Fox News Digital and KITV. Original Fox News story: Fox News. KITV coverage noted the July 16 arrest and the Aug. 14 district court date for the separate theft case.
