Dad left his 6-year-old daughter sleeping outside Target at 1 a.m. to hold his place in line for Pokémon cards — then told police he’d gone home
Dooley claimed that media coverage has been 'inaccurate.'
Overnight retail lines for hot collectibles often test a shopper's patience. Still, one South Carolina father took his dedication to trading cards to an unthinkable extreme. When John-Michael Dooley left his 6-year-old daughter sleeping outside a Target at 1 a.m. to hold his place in line for Pokémon cards, people around were stunned. The shocking incident is being highlighted on multiple news channels, including NBC News and CNN. An Instagram clip shared by @cnn on November 9, 2026, has quickly drawn over 79,500 likes and 2,750 comments.
Holding a spot in line at 1 a.m.
Numerous customers had camped out overnight outside a Target store in Charleston’s West Ashley neighborhood. Everyone was waiting for Friday's release of the latest Pokémon Trading Card Game expansion, “Mega Evolution - Delta Reign”. The decades-old Japanese franchise began as a children's video game, and packs start at around $5. Witnesses told the Charleston Police Department that 35-year-old Dooley, of Johns Island, handed his daughter a pillow and blanket around 1 a.m. He then allegedly left the 6-year-old fast asleep in the line and walked away. Around an hour passed with no sign of him. Concerned shoppers finally called authorities, and officers arrived at the store around 2:30 a.m. to find the young girl alone.
Father arrested after returning to Target
When Dooley finally returned to the Target, witnesses pointed him out to officers. Police arrested him on the spot. According to the police news release, Dooley admitted that he had actually gone home and left his daughter unattended so he wouldn't lose his spot in line. Authorities did not specify whether he planned to buy the cards for himself or his child. Dooley declined to discuss the allegations in detail with NBC News, citing advice from his attorney.
He claimed that media coverage has been "inaccurate," though he did not explain what was wrong. Fortunately, the child was unharmed. She was placed in emergency protective custody with the South Carolina Department of Social Services. Dooley was charged with unlawful conduct toward a child and booked into the Al Cannon Detention Center. According to a November 9, 2026 ABC News report, he has "since been released from custody," a Charleston Police Department spokesperson said.
Grown-up collectibles obsession
The incident highlights a booming collector craze driven by adults fiercely loyal to major pop-culture universes like Pokémon, Marvel, and DC. A Circana survey published on June 3, 2025, found that 19% of U.S. adults had purchased Pokémon trading cards for themselves in the previous six months. Only about one-quarter of those buyers played the game, while most collected or displayed the cards and others bought them for resale.
'Pokémon before fatherhood'
Netizens are seriously questioning the father's reckless priorities, asking why a grown man would risk his daughter's safety for collectible cards. Many are praising the bystanders who stepped in to report him. @romemartine wrote, "Why couldn't SHE stayed home asleep while YOU waited in line," while user @lilith.llc commented, "Pokémon before fatherhood."
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