A South Carolina father was arrested after allegedly leaving his six-year-old daughter asleep outside a Target store overnight while he went home to preserve his place in a queue for Pokémon trading cards, police said.
John-Michael Dooley, 35, of Johns Island, was charged with unlawful conduct toward a child following the incident in Charleston's West Ashley neighbourhood on Friday, 6 November 2026. Customers waiting outside the store contacted police after the girl was reportedly left unattended for about an hour.
Charleston police officers responded at about 2:30 a.m. The girl was unharmed and was later placed in emergency protective custody with the South Carolina Department of Social Services.
Customers Alert Police After Girl Is Left Sleeping
Witnesses told officers that Dooley had been waiting in the queue with his daughter before giving her a pillow and blanket sometime after 1 a.m. They said he left her sleeping outside the store and did not return for roughly an hour.
Other customers became concerned and called police. Officers arrived at the Target location and spoke with those waiting for the release. Dooley returned to the store, where witnesses identified him to officers, police said. Police said Dooley later told detectives he had gone home, leaving his daughter unattended so he could keep his place in the queue for the trading cards.
The girl was not reported to have suffered any injuries. Police did not release her identity, and authorities have not disclosed details of her placement following the intervention.
Pokémon Card Release Draws Overnight Crowds
The customers had gathered ahead of the 6 November release of Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution—Delta Reign, a new expansion of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. The launch brought collectors to retailers hoping to purchase newly released cards.
The Pokémon franchise began as a Japanese video game series before expanding into television, films, and trading cards. The card game allows players to build decks and compete, while collectors seek particular designs and rare cards.
Some trading card packs were priced from around $5 (around £3.74), NBC News reported, although products in the expansion were sold in different formats and at different prices. Police did not specify which products Dooley intended to buy or whether the cards were intended for him or his daughter.
Father Charged as Daughter Taken Into Protective Custody
Dooley was taken to the Al Cannon Detention Center after his arrest. He has been charged with unlawful conduct toward a child. Unlawful conduct toward a child is classified as a felony under South Carolina law. The statute addresses conduct that places a child at an unreasonable risk of harm to their life, health, or safety, among other circumstances.
Charleston County court records cited by USA Today placed Dooley's bond at $40,000. Reports have given conflicting dates for his initial court appearance, and a confirmed date was not available from the court docket for this article.
USA Today reported that it had not been able to identify an attorney representing Dooley.
The South Carolina Department of Social Services took the girl into emergency protective custody after police intervened. Officials have not publicly identified the child or released further information about her care. The criminal charge remains pending adjudication.
