South Carolina man arrested after leaving sleeping 6-year-old daughter in line for Pokémon card release, police say
A Charleston man was arrested after leaving his 6-year-old daughter sleeping outside a Target to hold his place in line for the release of a new Pokémon card set, Mega Evolution — Delta Reign. Police responded to an unattended child report around 2:30 a.m. and found the girl alone; the father, John-Michael Dooley, later admitted he left her to avoid missing the sale. The child was unharmed and placed in emergency protective custody, and Dooley was charged with unlawful conduct toward a child. The case highlights overnight lines for collectible card releases and raises questions about parental judgment and safety as such events draw crowds.
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Witnesses reported that Dooley returned to the store after about an hour and was identified by shoppers, leading to his arrest; the incident occurred in Charleston's West Ashley neighborhood.
Authorities stated that Dooley told officers he had gone home and left his daughter unattended so he could keep his place in line for the card release.
The girl was given a pillow and blanket by bystanders before Dooley left, and she remained asleep during the early-morning hours.
The latest expansion, Mega Evolution — Delta Reign, went on sale on Friday, with card packs starting around $5, attracting a sizable overnight crowd.
Dooley, 35, of Johns Island, South Carolina, is detained at the Al Cannon Detention Center and faces a charge of unlawful conduct toward a child; the child has been placed in protective custody with the South Carolina Department of Social Services.
The report does not indicate whether Dooley intended to purchase the cards for himself or his daughter, leaving the motivation open to interpretation.
NBC News reporters Matt Lavietes and Madison Lambert are credited with the coverage.