Father Arrested After Leaving Six-Year-Old Daughter Outside Charleston Target for Pokémon Cards
A South Carolina father was arrested early Friday morning after police say he left his six-year-old daughter sleeping in an overnight line outside a Target store so he could maintain his spot for a Pokémon trading card release. John-Michael Dooley, 35, faces a charge of unlawful conduct toward a child following the incident outside the retail location in the West Ashley neighborhood of Charleston.
The sequence of events began around 1 a.m. on Friday, according to the Charleston Police Department. Dooley arrived at the store alongside numerous other people hoping to purchase packs from the newly launched “Mega Evolution – Delta Reign” and “30th Celebration” Pokémon collections, which feature items starting at around $5. Before leaving the premises, the Johns Island local provided his sleeping daughter with a pillow and a blanket, positioning her among the crowd waiting on the sidewalk.
Witnesses Report Unattended Child at Store
After being gone for over an hour, Dooley’s absence prompted concern among neighboring individuals waiting in the queue. Around 2:30 a.m., witnesses contacted local authorities to report an unattended child. Customers on the scene identified Dooley to responding officers when he eventually returned to the store.
Investigators stated that the father confessed to leaving the young girl behind specifically to preserve his position in the queue and avoid missing out on the retail drop. Police confirmed that the child was unharmed during the incident. Officers placed the youngster into emergency protective custody with the South Carolina Department of Social Services.
Court Date and Bond Details
Following his arrest, Dooley was booked into the Al Cannon Detention Center. Online court records show that his bond was set at $40,000. He is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 12.
