Father Charged in Alleged Pokémon-Card Child Abandonment

A 35-year-old Johns Island man, John-Michael Dooley, was arrested and charged with unlawful conduct toward a child after allegedly leaving his 6-year-old daughter asleep outside a West Ashley Target in Charleston to hold his place in line for a Pokémon card release. Police said witnesses saw him give the girl a pillow and blanket after 1 a.m., and concerned customers called authorities when he had not returned after about an hour. Dooley later returned and reportedly told detectives he had gone home to avoid losing his spot. The child was unharmed and placed in emergency protective custody with South Carolina’s Department of Social Services.