Charleston Arrest: Father Leaves Child Sleeping in Pokémon Line
John-Michael Dooley was booked after leaving his 6-year-old daughter overnight outside a Target to hold a spot for new trading cards.
By Marco Ortega ·
A 35-year-old Charleston man faces criminal charges after leaving his 6-year-old daughter sleeping outside a Target store for several hours. Police say the girl was left alone in line for a new Pokémon card release while her father, John-Michael Dooley, walked home.
Officers arrived at the store around 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 6 after receiving reports of an unattended child. They found the girl asleep in line with a pillow and blanket. The police department stated that Dooley had given her these items sometime after 1 a.m. before walking away. Concerned shoppers contacted authorities after Dooley had not returned for approximately one hour.
Witnesses identified Dooley when he arrived back at the store. He admitted to investigators that he left his daughter to hold his position in the queue so he could go home. He did not clarify during questioning whether the cards were intended for himself or his daughter.
The overnight crowd gathered for the launch of the Mega Evolution, Delta Reign expansion set. This new release from the Japanese media franchise continues to draw large numbers of both young fans and adult collectors. Standard booster packs sell for about $5, though rare cards can fetch thousands on the secondary market.
Police confirmed the child was unharmed. She was placed under the care of the South Carolina Department of Social Services. Dooley was charged with unlawful conduct toward a child. He was later released from the Al Cannon Detention Center.
The incident occurred at a Target location in Charleston. The new card set is part of the ongoing Pokémon trading card series. The arrest resulted from the early morning dispatch to the store.
