Father arrested after leaving child asleep outside Target for Pokemon cards
Police in South Carolina arrest a father who allegedly left his 6-year-old child sleeping alone outside Target to save a spot for a rare Pokemon release.
Law enforcement officers in South Carolina have arrested a father after he allegedly left his six-year-old daughter sleeping unattended in a camping chair outside a Target retail store overnight to hold a queue position for a rare Pokémon trading card drop.
According to arrest affidavits released by the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office and reported by NBC News and FOX Carolina, deputies were dispatched to the shopping centre shortly before sunrise after concerned shoppers discovered the young child alone in near-freezing temperatures.
Details of the police investigation
Deputies responding to the 911 calls discovered the young girl wrapped in a thin blanket without adequate supervision:
- The overnight vigil: Collectors had begun lining up outside the store late Friday evening to purchase highly coveted, limited-edition trading card booster boxes.
- Absence of the guardian: Police located the father inside a warm vehicle parked across the retail lot, separated from the line.
- Charges filed: Authorities charged the individual with felony unlawful conduct toward a child, and state child protective services were immediately notified to ensure the child’s safety.
The frenzy around collector merchandise
The incident has reignited nationwide debate regarding the extremes of secondary-market trading card speculation. In recent years, retailers across the US have imposed purchase quotas and altered store policies to prevent overnight camping and disorderly conduct sparked by high-value collectible launches.
