Dad Asked 6-Year-Old Daughter if ‘She Had the Gun’ Before He Left Her in Line for Pokémon Cards

Child endangerment charges may increase for parents prioritizing collector items over child safety.

A father in Charleston, South Carolina, was arrested for child endangerment after leaving his 6-year-old daughter alone in a Target parking lot at 1 am. The man, John-Michael Dooley, left his daughter asleep with a pillow and blanket to secure his spot in line for a Pokémon card release. He was gone for over an hour. Another person in line alerted authorities when Dooley did not return within 45 minutes, and police arrived before the father returned to the line. Dooley told detectives he left to take his dogs home, but acknowledged leaving his daughter unattended. He has been charged with unlawful conduct toward a child. The incident highlights the extreme lengths collectors will go to for sought-after trading cards, a market known for intense demand and lengthy queues.

The extreme demand for Pokémon cards has led to unusual and dangerous behavior from collectors, as demonstrated by this father's arrest for leaving his child unattended. This incident, occurring during a new product release, underscores the market's volatility and the lengths to which individuals will go to acquire sought-after items. It raises questions about security and the management of high-demand product releases by retailers like Target.

The legal consequences for the father, including charges of unlawful conduct toward a child, signal a stricter enforcement of laws protecting minors from neglect, especially in public spaces. This event could prompt retailers to review their policies for managing crowds and product releases, potentially implementing stricter measures to prevent similar situations and ensure the safety of all patrons, particularly children.