A South Carolina man has been arrested after police said he left his six-year-old daughter sleeping outside a Target store while he held his place in line for the release of a new Pokémon trading card set.
Charleston police were called to the store in the West Ashley neighbourhood at about 2.30am on Friday following a report of an unattended child. Officers found the girl alone and identified her father as 35-year-old John-Michael Dooley, of Johns Island.
Witnesses told police that Dooley had given his daughter a pillow and blanket before leaving her asleep in the queue sometime after 1am. Concerned customers contacted authorities when he had not returned after about an hour.
Police said Dooley came back to the store and was identified by witnesses before being arrested. According to the department, he admitted going home and leaving his daughter unattended so he could keep his place in line.
The overnight queue had formed ahead of the release of “Mega Evolution — Delta Reign”, the latest expansion for the Pokémon Trading Card Game. The franchise centres on fictional creatures that players collect, train and battle, with packs starting at around $5.
The child was unharmed and was placed in emergency protective custody with the South Carolina Department of Social Services, police said.
Dooley was charged with unlawful conduct toward a child and is being held at the Al Cannon Detention Center.
He declined to discuss the allegations in detail, citing advice from his lawyer. Dooley said media coverage had been inaccurate but did not specify what he believed was wrong.
