South Carolina man allegedly leaves 6yo daughter with pillow and blanket outside Target overnight. Then he admits he wanted to ‘hold his place in line’

A South Carolina father is facing criminal charges after allegedly leaving his 6-year-old daughter sleeping outside a Target store in the middle of the night so he could hold his place in line for newly released Pokémon trading cards. What started as an attempt to get his hands on the popular collectibles ended with concerned customers calling the police and the child being placed in emergency protective custody, according to the Charleston Police Department (CPD).

John-Michael Dooley of Johns Island was arrested after officers with the CPD responded to reports of an unattended child outside a Target store in Charleston. The officers arrived at the West Ashley location around 2:30 a.m., where a crowd of customers had apparently gathered ahead of the release of new Pokémon products.

Witnesses told police that Dooley had initially been waiting in line with his daughter. However, sometime after 1 a.m., he allegedly gave the young girl a pillow and blanket before leaving her asleep outside the store. Customers reportedly became concerned when approximately an hour passed without Dooley returning, prompting them to contact authorities.

He apparently admitted to the mistake

When Dooley eventually returned to the store, witnesses identified him to responding officers, who took him into custody. During a subsequent interview with detectives, he allegedly admitted that he had gone home and left his daughter outside the store unattended to preserve his place in the line.

Fortunately, the 6-year-old girl was unharmed when officers found her. Authorities subsequently placed her in emergency protective custody with the South Carolina Department of Social Services.

Dooley was charged with unlawful conduct toward a child and booked into the Al Cannon Detention Center. His bond was set at $40,000, according to Charleston County court records. His initial court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 18.

South Carolina law specifically addresses situations in which a parent puts a child at risk through inadequate supervision. According to the South Carolina Code of Laws, it is unlawful for a parent or anyone responsible for a child’s welfare to place them at unreasonable risk of harm affecting their life, physical or mental health, or safety. A violation is classified as a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison upon conviction.

The Pokémon Trading Card Game has experienced a significant resurgence in popularity, as reported by CNBC, with certain card releases attracting collectors willing to wait in long overnight lines. Some rare and highly sought-after cards can also command hundreds or even thousands of dollars on the resale market, making limited-edition releases particularly competitive.