Anytime a new series of Pokémon cards is released, fans go to extreme measures to be the first to get their hands on them.
A man in Charleston, South Carolina, however, took things a bit too far — so much so that he was placed under arrest.
A Dubious Parenting Decision
According to a news release from the Charleston Police Department, 35-year-old John-Michael Dooley was placed under arrest after he left his six-year-old daughter sleeping outside a Target store so he wouldn’t lose his place in line while awaiting the release of a new Pokémon trading card set.
“On November 6, 2026, around 2:30 a.m., Officers responded to the West Ashley Target after receiving a report of an unattended child,” reads the release. “When they arrived, officers learned that the child had been waiting in line with her father, later identified as John-Michael Dooley, 35, of Johns Island. Numerous customers had gathered outside the store overnight in anticipation of the release of a new Pokémon trading card set.”
Witnessess told police that at approximately 1 a.m., Dooley handed his daughter a pillow and a blanket and then exited, leaving her to fall asleep unattended while holding his place in line.
“After approximately an hour passed without his return, concerned customers contacted police,” the release adds.
When Dooley finally did return to the store, police officers were on the scene. Eyewitnesses identified him to cops, and he was arrested.
“During an interview with detectives, Dooley admitted that he had returned home, leaving his daughter unattended so he could maintain his place in line and avoid missing the opportunity to purchase the cards,” continues to release, which added that the child was unharmed, but had been placed in emergency custody with the South Carolina Department of Social Services.
Dooley is being charged with unlawful conduct toward a child; at the time the release was issued, he was being held at Charleston’s Al Cannon Detention Center.
An Unfortunate Trip to Vegas
Dooley’s arrest comes less than two weeks after another report of poor parenting.
In this case, a Florida mother was arrested after leaving her four children — ranging in age from nine to 14 — unattended for three days while she travelled to Las Vegas.
She was busted when an accident during her absence led one of her kids to call 911.
“Just after 8:30 pm on October 21, 2026, OCSO received a 911 call from a juvenile that her 9-year-old brother had been injured by a dumbbell that fell on his head,” the Osceola County Sherrif’s Office stated in a news release.
“Fire Rescue responded and transported the 9-year-old male to Celebration Hospital for treatment,” the release added.
The mother, 50-year-old Irene Miller, was apprehended by police at the airport when her flight from Vegas arrived. She was arrested and charged with child neglect.
“The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office will not tolerate child neglect,” said Osceola County Sheriff Chris Blackmon. “These cases will be investigated, and charges will be brought against the parents who are not properly supervising or caring for their children.”
Father Arrested After Leaving 6-Year-Old Alone in Line for Pokemon Cards