A Johns Island father is facing a child endangerment charge after Charleston police say he left his six-year-old daughter alone in an overnight line outside a West Ashley Target so he could go home while customers waited for a new Pokémon trading card game release. Officers were called to the store Friday after receiving a report of an unattended child, and the girl was later placed into emergency protective custody.
According to WCBD News 2, customers had gathered outside the Target overnight anticipating the new card set's release. Witnesses told officers that 35-year-old John-Michael Dooley left his daughter in line sometime after 1 a.m., first giving her a pillow and a blanket before he walked away, according to Count on 2.
Witnesses Say the Father Was Gone for About an Hour
Witnesses told officers Dooley was absent for about an hour before other customers in line grew concerned enough to contact law enforcement, the station's report states. Those same witnesses reportedly identified Dooley to responding officers once he returned to the store. Police allege he had left his daughter behind in the line specifically to save his spot.
According to officials, Dooley admitted he left his daughter in line to maintain his place and avoid missing his chance to buy the Pokémon cards while he went home, as reported by Count on 2. The station reports Charleston police then arrested him at the scene.
Charge Filed, Child Placed in State Custody
Dooley was charged with unlawful conduct toward a child and taken to a local detention center, per the same account. The child was reported unharmed and was placed into emergency protective custody with the South Carolina Department of Social Services.
South Carolina's children's code, as published by the South Carolina Legislature, states that it is unlawful to place a child at unreasonable risk of harm to the child's life, physical or mental health, or safety. The excerpt available does not detail how that provision was applied in Dooley's case, and no information on the charge's full statutory basis, bond status, or any court proceedings has been made public.
