A father in South Carolina faced criticism for leaving his 6-year-old daughter sleeping unattended outside a Target store while waiting for Pokémon cards, an incident that ultimately led to his arrest.
The Charleston Police Department issued a news release detailing the incident. According to authorities, the father, identified as 35-year-old John-Michael Dooley, had been waiting in line outside a Target store with his daughter ahead of the release of a new Pokémon trading card set.
Witnesses reported that sometime after 1 a.m., Dooley gave his 6-year-old daughter a pillow and blanket before leaving her to sleep alone in the line. When approximately an hour passed without him returning, other customers waiting outside the store became concerned for the little girl’s safety and contacted the police.
Police later arrived at the Target store, where the little girl had been left unattended. When Dooley eventually returned, officers arrested him. During questioning, the father reportedly admitted to detectives that he had gone home and left his daughter outside the store alone so she could hold his place in line. He allegedly wanted to make sure he didn’t miss his chance to purchase the Pokémon cards.
Dooley was charged with unlawful conduct toward a child and was taken to the Al Cannon Detention Center. Fortunately, his daughter was unharmed. According to the Charleston Police Department, the girl was placed into emergency protective custody with the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS).
According to court records cited by USA Today, Dooley’s bond was set at $40,000, with his next court appearance scheduled for December 18. The case remains unresolved.
Pokémon cards have become a major obsession for some collectors. Enthusiasts will wait in line for hours or spend large sums of money to obtain rare cards. The game’s popularity has also created a competitive market. It’s one where limited releases can result in long lines, arguments, and even physical altercations between customers. However, the excitement surrounding a new release took a troubling turn in South Carolina when police say Dooley left his young daughter sleeping outside Target so he wouldn’t lose his place in line.
Internet Users Slam South Carolina Father for Leaving Daughter Alone
Many internet users criticized the South Carolina father for leaving his young daughter unattended outside a Target store just to secure Pokémon cards. “He left his child in the cold so he could sleep in his warm bed? This level of selfishness, idiocy, and neglect should automatically remove you from society. Jail for life, I don’t even care,” one person wrote.
Another expressed disbelief over the circumstances, commenting, “Wow, the situation is way worse than I inferred from the title. I thought he left her outside so he could go in a buy cars. I was wondering why he couldn’t take her inside? But he left her outside in line at ONE A.M. so he could go home but not lose his spot in line. He was gonna have her sleep there.”
Others continued expressing shock over the father’s actions, with some questioning his ability to care for his daughter. “That dad doesn’t deserve Pokémon cards or to be a father!” one person wrote. Another shared a similar experience involving a parent prioritizing Pokémon cards over his children’s safety. “No lie, just yesterday went into GameStop and it was a long line, and two little kids come wandering in and the dad is just standing in line waiting to buy his Pokémon packs, telling them to go back outside to wait in the car for him. Kids had to have been no older than 4,” they commented.
Dooley’s actions raised concerns about parents prioritizing personal interests over their children’s safety. This is particularly when it comes to highly sought-after collectibles. The incident also prompted questions about parental responsibility and what consequences should follow when a child is left unattended in potentially dangerous circumstances.
