Police say a South Carolina father left his 6-year-old sleeping outside a Target after 1 a.m. so he would not lose his place in line for Pokémon cards.
Story Snapshot
- Charleston police arrested a father who allegedly left his daughter outside a Target overnight to hold his spot.
- Witnesses called police after about an hour; officers found the child asleep with a pillow and blanket.
- Police say the father admitted he went home to keep his place in line for Pokémon cards.
- The girl was unharmed and placed in emergency protective custody with state social services.
What Police Say Happened Outside the West Ashley Target
Charleston Police Department officers responded to a West Ashley Target around 2:30 a.m. after callers reported a young child alone outside. Reports say the girl, age 6, was sleeping on a pillow and under a blanket near a line of customers. Witnesses told officers the father had left after 1:00 a.m. and returned later while police were on scene. Officers arrested the father, identified as a 35-year-old Johns Island man, on a charge of unlawful conduct toward a child.
Reports based on police statements say customers watched the girl for about an hour before calling 911. When officers arrived, witnesses pointed out the man as he came back to the store. Police said the child did not report harm. Paramedics evaluated her at the scene. The officers then placed her into emergency protective custody and contacted the South Carolina Department of Social Services for placement, according to local coverage.
The Alleged Motive and the Criminal Charge
Police accounts carried by multiple outlets say the father told officers he left his daughter there to keep his spot and avoid missing a chance to buy Pokémon trading cards. One report quotes the admission as, “I left her there to hold my spot for Pokémon cards,” attributed to a police interview summary. The man was booked on a single count of unlawful conduct toward a child, a South Carolina offense that covers placing a child at unreasonable risk of harm.
South Carolina law makes it illegal for a parent or caregiver to place a child at unreasonable risk to the child’s life, or physical or mental health, even if the child suffers no actual injury. The statute focuses on avoidable risk and neglect, not just completed harm. Prosecutors often weigh time left alone, the child’s age, access to help, and nighttime exposure when building these cases under Section 63-5-70 of the South Carolina Code.
Child Safety, Public Lines, and a Wider Pattern of Risk
This case fits a common pattern seen in neglect enforcement, where the key issue is supervision. Officers look at whether a young child had access to care and safety if something went wrong. Here, police say the child was left outdoors overnight while adults waited to buy goods, which raised concern about exposure and the chance of harm. Similar charges in South Carolina turn on risk and circumstances, not whether an injury occurred in the moment.
Police and child welfare workers placed the girl with state social services after confirming she was not hurt. That step signals officials saw immediate safety concerns. The criminal case now moves to court, where a judge will consider evidence, including witness accounts and any recorded statements. The outcome could range from dismissal to diversion, plea, or trial. For now, the public record centers on police statements and the arrest that followed at the store.
Sources:
charlotteobserver.com, people.com, wltx.com, abcnews4.com, whio.com
