A man has been arrested after he allegedly left his young daughter alone overnight in a queue for Pokémon cards while he went home.
On November 6, police were contacted around 2.30am about an unattended child outside of a Target store in Charleston, USA, the Charleston Police Department said in a statement.
When they arrived at the West Ashley store, officers learned that the six-year-old had initially been waiting in line with her father, John-Michael Dooley, before being left alone.
Many people had queued overnight at the store in anticipation of the release of a new Pokémon card trading set.
Witnesses told police that around 1am, the child’s father gave her a blanket and a pillow and left her asleep in the queue while he disappeared.
After he had not returned for an hour, concerned customers contacted the police.
When Mr Dooley reappeared at the store, witnesses pointed him out to officers and he was arrested.
In an interview with detectives, the 35-year-old said that he went home and left his daughter there to secure his spot in line.
He was charged with unlawful conduct towards a child and remains in custody.
The six-year-old child was unharmed and was placed into emergency protective custody with the South Carolina Department of Social Services.
Mr Dooley is expected to appear in court on December 18.
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