A 35-year-old man was arrested in Charleston, South Carolina, after leaving his 6-year-old daughter unattended while waiting in line for a newly released Pokémon Trading Card Game set, according to reporting by The Washington Post and credit to IGN.
The incident took place outside a Target store in the West Ashley district, where a crowd had formed for the card release.
Police and timeline
Officers responded to reports of an unattended child at approximately 2:30 a.m. local time.
Witnesses told investigators that the man, identified by authorities as John-Michael Dooley, had given the girl a pillow and blanket sometime after 1:00 a.m. and left her asleep in the line.
After Dooley did not return within roughly an hour, bystanders contacted law enforcement.
When he returned to the scene, officers arrested him.
He later admitted he left the child to preserve his place in line.
Dooley was charged with unlawful conduct toward a child, and the girl was placed in emergency protective custody; officials reported she was unharmed.
Community and industry reaction
Coverage from Nintendo-focused outlets and general news sites highlighted widespread outrage.
Staff at Nintendo Life, many of whom are parents, expressed anger at the decision and relief that the child was not injured.
Observers reacted with incredulity, bluntly questioning what could motivate leaving a young child alone overnight to hold a spot in line.
Context for collectors and the Pokémon brand
The Pokémon Trading Card Game is published by The Pokémon Company and continues to drive significant retail demand for physical product releases.
The Pokémon franchise also maintains a major presence on Nintendo platforms such as Nintendo Switch, where Pokémon video game releases and digital promotions often coincide with broader marketing activity like Nintendo Direct presentations or eShop updates.
However, the incident at the Target store pertains to the physical card market rather than a digital release.
Legal and public-safety notes
Local law enforcement handled the matter as a child welfare and criminal-justice issue.
The charge of unlawful conduct toward a child will proceed through the Charleston court system.
No injuries were reported, and the case has prompted renewed discussion among retailers and collectors about safety and responsibility during high-demand product drops.
The incident took place outside a Target store in the West Ashley district, where a crowd had formed for the card release.
Police and timeline
Officers responded to reports of an unattended child at approximately 2:30 a.m. local time.
Witnesses told investigators that the man, identified by authorities as John-Michael Dooley, had given the girl a pillow and blanket sometime after 1:00 a.m. and left her asleep in the line.
After Dooley did not return within roughly an hour, bystanders contacted law enforcement.
When he returned to the scene, officers arrested him.
He later admitted he left the child to preserve his place in line.
Dooley was charged with unlawful conduct toward a child, and the girl was placed in emergency protective custody; officials reported she was unharmed.
Community and industry reaction
Coverage from Nintendo-focused outlets and general news sites highlighted widespread outrage.
Staff at Nintendo Life, many of whom are parents, expressed anger at the decision and relief that the child was not injured.
Observers reacted with incredulity, bluntly questioning what could motivate leaving a young child alone overnight to hold a spot in line.
Context for collectors and the Pokémon brand
The Pokémon Trading Card Game is published by The Pokémon Company and continues to drive significant retail demand for physical product releases.
The Pokémon franchise also maintains a major presence on Nintendo platforms such as Nintendo Switch, where Pokémon video game releases and digital promotions often coincide with broader marketing activity like Nintendo Direct presentations or eShop updates.
However, the incident at the Target store pertains to the physical card market rather than a digital release.
Legal and public-safety notes
Local law enforcement handled the matter as a child welfare and criminal-justice issue.
The charge of unlawful conduct toward a child will proceed through the Charleston court system.
No injuries were reported, and the case has prompted renewed discussion among retailers and collectors about safety and responsibility during high-demand product drops.
