Honolulu police arrest Obama's close friend in undercover prostitution sting

April 7, 2011

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By Jaymes Song, The Associated Press | The Canadian Press – Thu, 7 Apr, 2011

1:32 AM EDT

HONOLULU, Hawaii - One of President Barack Obama's close friends has been

arrested in Honolulu on suspicion of soliciting a prostitute.

" Bobby " Titcomb was one of four men arrested in an undercover sting

operation late Monday and later released on $500 bail, according to Honolulu

police.

Titcomb, 49, attended Punahou School in Honolulu with Obama in the 1970s. The

president graduated in 1979, a year before Titcomb. The two often play golf and

basketball, go to the beach and dine together when the president returns home to

Hawaii for vacation.

Obama's family has also attended barbeques at Titcomb's beachside home in

Waialua, located on Oahu's North Shore about an hour outside of downtown

Honolulu.

Titcomb and Obama last spent time together in Hawaii during Obama's most recent

vacation over the Christmas and New Year's holidays.

The White House had no comment. Titcomb has not publicly responded to the

charges, and he wasn't immediately available for comment.

Police said Titcomb was arrested at 9:40 p.m. Monday near downtown at the

intersection of South and Pohukaina streets, which is next to the Circuit Court

building and a large parking lot. He posted bail about two hours later.

Titcomb has worked as a commercial fisherman and an airline employee, according

to the spring 2007 edition of the " Punahou Bulletin, " the school's alumni

magazine.

In 1987, he was arrested on drunken driving charges, which led to the 90-day

suspension of his license and a $150 fine, according to state criminal records.

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AP writers Kelleher and Audrey McAvoy contributed to this report.

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