Dad Leaves Kid Outside Target at 2 A.M.

November 10, 2026

Target store exterior with parking lot — Photo: Sam Aronov / Shutterstock

A South Carolina father is accused of leaving his sleeping 6-year-old daughter alone outside a Target at 2:30 a.m. so he wouldn’t lose his spot in line for new Pokémon cards.

Quick Take

Charleston police say a man left his daughter sleeping outside a West Ashley Target early Friday morning.
Witnesses told police the father gave the girl a pillow and blanket before walking away for roughly an hour.
He was arrested and charged with one count of unlawful conduct toward a child.
Police say he admitted leaving her so he wouldn’t miss the chance to buy new Pokémon trading cards.
The child was placed in emergency protective custody with the South Carolina Department of Social Services.

Officers Respond To Unattended Child Call

The Charleston Police Department said officers responded to the Target store in the 2000 block of Sam Rittenberg Boulevard around 2:30 a.m. on November 6, 2026. They got a call about an unattended child outside the store. When officers arrived, they found a 6-year-old girl alone, with no adult watching her.

Police identified the child as the daughter of Franklin Dooley. Officers said she had been left by herself outside the store, with no adult supervision nearby. That detail formed the center of the police report used to support the later arrest.

Witnesses Say Father Left Child To Hold His Place

Customers in line told police that Dooley gave his daughter a pillow and a blanket before leaving sometime after 1 a.m. He reportedly asked her to hold his spot while people waited overnight for a new Pokémon Trading Card Game release. When he came back, witnesses pointed him out to officers.

Police said Dooley admitted what he had done when questioned. According to the report, he told officers he went home and left his daughter unattended so he wouldn’t miss the chance to buy the new cards when the store opened.

Arrest And Child Welfare Response Follow

Dooley was arrested and charged with one count of unlawful conduct toward a child, a charge confirmed across multiple local and national outlets. The arrest reflects police action based on their investigation. It is not a finding of guilt. The case will still need to go through the courts.

After the arrest, police said the girl was placed in emergency protective custody with the South Carolina Department of Social Services. That step is a standard child welfare response. It is separate from the criminal case against her father.

Overnight Lines Have Turned Risky Before

This is not the first time Pokémon card releases have led to tense or dangerous scenes outside stores. Overnight lines for the collectible cards have drawn large crowds of fans and resellers hoping to grab limited stock before it sells out. In other cities, these waits have led to shoving matches and even reported weapons incidents as shoppers compete for a chance to buy.

Researchers who study child welfare cases note that “lack of supervision” is one of the most common reasons families end up facing neglect investigations. The Charleston case fits that broader pattern. Authorities must weigh whether a parent’s absence put a child in real danger, even when the parent says no harm was intended.