A Charleston, South Carolina father is facing a charge of unlawful conduct toward a child after police say he left his six-year-old daughter asleep outside a Target store to hold his place in line for a Pokémon card release. According to police, 35-year-old John-Michael Dooley gave the girl a pillow and blanket and left her on the sidewalk sometime after 1 a.m. Friday. Customers in line called officers around 2:30 a.m. after he had been gone roughly an hour.
Dooley allegedly told detectives he went home and left his daughter at the store to keep his spot. The child was unharmed and has been placed in emergency protective custody with the South Carolina Department of Social Services. The case arrives as overnight release lines for limited-edition trading cards have become routine, with collectors camping outside retailers in Florida and across the country.
Here on the Suncoast, card hunting is a familiar pastime, from big-box stores to local shops. That makes this story hit a little closer to home, and it raises fair questions about parental judgment, safety after dark, and what retailers owe the crowds they attract. The girl is safe, and that is the headline that matters most. What’s your take on where the line should be drawn? Sound off in the comments.
