Charleston police arrested John-Michael Dooley, 35, of Johns Island, after he left his 6-year-old daughter sleeping in an overnight line outside a Target in South Carolina so he would not lose his place for a Pokémon trading-card release, the department said².

Officers responded to the West Ashley store about 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 6 after a report of an unattended child, according to a Charleston Police Department account reported by Global News². Numerous customers had gathered overnight for the Pokémon Trading Card Game Mega Evolution — Delta Reign expansion, released Friday².

Witnesses told police that sometime after 1 a.m., Dooley gave the girl a pillow and blanket and left her asleep in line². After about an hour without his return, concerned customers called police, according to the department’s description of the case².

404 Media, citing 911 records it obtained, reported that Dooley decided to run home and left the child “sleeping on the concrete” rather than lose his place¹. When he came back, witnesses identified him and he was arrested, police said².

An incident report obtained by 404 Media said the person next to the girl heard the father ask if she “had the gun” before he left her alone for more than an hour¹. Global News’s account of the police release did not mention a firearm². Neither outlet reported that a gun was found with the child.

Police said Dooley told detectives he had gone home, leaving his daughter unattended, so he could keep his place in line and not miss buying the cards^1,2.

Police said the child was unharmed and was placed in emergency protective custody with the South Carolina Department of Social Services². Dooley was charged with unlawful conduct toward a child and was being held at the Al Cannon Detention Center². It was not clear from the reporting whether he has entered a plea or hired a lawyer.