Sometime after 1 a.m., Dooley gave his daughter a pillow and blanket, leaving her asleep in line before walking away, according to police.
"After approximately an hour passed without his return, concerned customers contacted police," the department said in a news release.
Witnesses identified Dooley when he returned to the store, and officers took him into custody. During questioning by investigators, Dooley admitted to leaving his daughter to hold his spot in line while he went home.
Authorities did not clarify whether Dooley planned to purchase the cards for himself or his daughter. The release coincided with the rollout of the latest Pokémon trading card expansion set: Mega Evolution—Delta Reign.
The massive Japanese media franchise, centered on fictional creatures, remains exceptionally popular among both children and adult collectors. While standard booster packs retail for around $5, rare cards can command thousands on the secondary market.
Police confirmed the child was unharmed. She was placed into the custody of the South Carolina Department of Social Services.
Dooley was charged with unlawful conduct toward a child and subsequently released from the Al Cannon Detention Center, according to online jail records.