Father accused of letting daughter sleep outside to save space for Pokémon cards, police say

CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC/Gray News) – A South Carolina man is accused of letting his 6-year-old daughter wait in line outside a Target store to hold her spot during a Pokémon card release.

John-Michael Dooley, 35, is charged with unlawful conduct toward a child.

Charleston officers responded to the West Ashley store around 2:30 a.m. Friday after receiving a report of an unsupervised child.

Customers had gathered outside overnight for the release of a new Pokémon trading card game.

Witnesses told police that shortly after 1 a.m., Dooley gave his daughter a pillow and blanket before leaving her asleep in the checkout line.

After he was gone for about an hour, concerned customers called the police.

When Dooley returned to the store, witnesses identified him and he was arrested.

Dooley allegedly told detectives he went home and left his daughter at the store to wait in line.

The girl was unharmed and placed in emergency protective custody with the South Carolina Department of Human Services.