CHARLESTON, S.C. — A South Carolina father was arrested early Friday after police say he left his 6-year-old daughter asleep outside a Target store in the middle of the night so he could hold his place in line for a new Pokémon trading card release. John-Michael Dooley, 35, of Johns Island, was charged with unlawful conduct toward a child after Charleston police found the girl sleeping alone outside the store in the city's West Ashley neighbourhood at about 2:30 a.m. on Friday, November 6, 2026. The girl was unharmed and was placed in emergency protective custody with the South Carolina Department of Social Services. Dooley is held at the Al Cannon Detention Center on a $40,000 bond, with his first court appearance scheduled for December 18.

Key Points

• John-Michael Dooley, 35, of Johns Island, South Carolina, was arrested on Friday, November 6, 2026, after police found his 6-year-old daughter asleep alone outside a Target in Charleston's West Ashley neighbourhood.
• Witnesses said that after 1 a.m., Dooley gave his daughter a pillow and a blanket, then left her asleep in the line. After about an hour, concerned customers called police.
• Dooley admitted to detectives that he had gone home and left his daughter unattended to keep his place in line and buy the new Pokémon cards, police said.
• The girl was unharmed and was placed into emergency protective custody with the South Carolina Department of Social Services.
• Dooley is charged with unlawful conduct toward a child and is held on a $40,000 bond, with his initial court appearance set for December 18.

What Happened

Charleston police responded to the Target in West Ashley at about 2:30 a.m. on Friday after reports of an unattended child outside the store. Officers found the 6-year-old girl asleep in the line of customers waiting for the store to open, and learned her father had been waiting in the same line with her for the new Pokémon trading card release.

During an interview with detectives, Dooley admitted he had gone home and left his daughter unattended so he could maintain his place in line and purchase the cards, police said. He had been identified to officers by witnesses when he returned to the store. Officers did not say how far away his home was, and police did not specify whether he intended to buy the cards for himself or for his daughter.

The release at the centre of the case was "Mega Evolution – Delta Reign," a new expansion for the Pokémon Trading Card Game that went on sale on November 6, NBC News reported. Packs start at around $5, according to NBC News, although rare cards can sell for far more on the resale market.

Background: Why Pokémon Card Releases Draw Overnight Lines

The Pokémon franchise began as a video game in Japan and has grown into a global entertainment brand featuring video games, television shows and collectible trading cards. Players collect cards featuring fictional creatures and use them in games, while collectors chase rare cards that can become valuable. New releases regularly attract crowds of collectors and resellers to big-box stores, and shoppers often arrive hours before opening to secure limited stock.

The competition has repeatedly caused problems for retailers. In 2021, Target temporarily suspended in-store sales of Pokémon and other trading cards after a confrontation between customers outside a store in Wisconsin, and the chain has since used purchase limits to manage demand. Friday's release was no exception: customers were already in line at the West Ashley Target in the early hours of the morning when police were called.

Dad Left 6-Year-Old Outside Target for Pokémon Cards: The Charge Explained

Dooley was charged with unlawful conduct toward a child, the charge South Carolina uses when a person responsible for a child places that child at unreasonable risk of harm or fails to provide proper care and supervision. Police said the charge followed from the girl being left asleep and alone in a public place in the middle of the night, in a line of strangers, while her father went home. USA TODAY reported that it could not identify an attorney representing Dooley, and no lawyer has publicly commented on the charge.

Reactions

The people who called police were other customers waiting in the same line. Witnesses told officers what they had seen — a father giving his daughter a pillow and a blanket, then leaving her asleep — and waited about an hour before calling for help. When Dooley returned, those witnesses identified him to officers, leading directly to his arrest.

Charleston police confirmed the arrest and the charge, and said the girl was unharmed and had been placed into emergency protective custody with the South Carolina Department of Social Services, which takes a child into its care when a situation may be unsafe. No public statement has been made by Dooley or anyone speaking for him.

Why It Matters

The case shows how the frenzy around limited-edition releases can collide with child safety. A new set of trading cards, sold in packs starting at about $5, drew a crowd willing to wait through the night — and, police say, led one father to leave his 6-year-old daughter alone in the dark to protect his place in that line. It also shows how bystander action can change an outcome: the customers who called police had watched the girl sleep alone for about an hour, and their call brought officers to the scene before anything worse happened.

What Happens Next

Dooley's initial court appearance is scheduled for December 18, when a judge will address the charge and the conditions of his detention. He remains held at the Al Cannon Detention Center on a $40,000 bond, according to Charleston County court records. The Department of Social Services will also be involved in deciding what happens to the girl, who was placed in emergency protective custody. It is not yet known whether Dooley has hired a lawyer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was arrested?
John-Michael Dooley, 35, of Johns Island, South Carolina, arrested on Friday, November 6, 2026, and charged with unlawful conduct toward a child.

What did police say he did?
Police say Dooley left his 6-year-old daughter asleep outside a Target in Charleston's West Ashley neighbourhood at about 2:30 a.m. to hold his place in line for a new Pokémon card release. He admitted to detectives that he had gone home and left her unattended to keep his spot.

Was the girl hurt?
No. Authorities said the girl was unharmed, and she was placed into emergency protective custody with the South Carolina Department of Social Services.

Which Pokémon cards were being released?
The new expansion "Mega Evolution – Delta Reign" for the Pokémon Trading Card Game, on sale from November 6. Packs start at around $5, according to NBC News.

What happens next?
Dooley is held at the Al Cannon Detention Center on a $40,000 bond, and his initial court appearance is scheduled for December 18.

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