Charleston, South Carolina - The 30th anniversary of Pokémon was supposed to be a milestone celebrated by kids in 2026, but apparently, it also made adults lose their composure. This was the case in South Carolina, where a father left his own six‑year‑old daughter to sleep on a sidewalk in the middle of the night just so he could get his hands on highly hyped collectible cards. Now, he's being held in jail with a hefty bail as he awaits his December court date.
In front of a Target supermarket in Charleston, 35‑year‑old Michael Dooley is said to have equipped his only six‑year‑old child with a pillow and blanket on a Friday night – and then left her alone at 1 AM
According to police reports cited by the Daily Star, the girl apparently fell asleep on the sidewalk in a line full of Pokémon fans without her father.
Dooley not only abandoned his daughter while he was supposed to be with her, but also left her behind as he made his getaway. At 2:30 AM, other people in the line finally called the local police because they were worried.
Dooley wanted, like the other waiting customers, to get the newest Pokémon cards from the Mega Evolution: Delta Reign series and the anniversary set. In recent years, the collectible cards have sparked a global craze, especially in the US, leading to long queues, a booming trading market, and fierce online bidding wars.
The Raven Father must answer to the court.
The police arrived on the scene and waited for the “crow father.” The 35‑year‑old left his own daughter behind so that, according to his own statements, he could “keep his place in line and not miss the chance to buy the tickets.”
Instead of getting the desired tickets, the father was arrested.
His bail is set at more than $38,000, and he is scheduled to appear before a judge on December 12.
His daughter has been placed in temporary protective custody by South Carolina’s Department of Social Services.