Pokémon 30th Anniversary restock marred by Target altercation that injures 4-year-old

A Target in Lisbon, Connecticut, limits customers to only two units per SKU for Pokémon Trading Cards. However, it’s the kind of rule printed at the register and then ignored when a massive restock hits store shelves.

A scalping-related brawl

Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) scalping has been a big problem in recent years, and things got heated on August 28 when two shoppers reportedly got into an altercation over Pokémon Trading Cards. What we saw was a fist thrown, a phone dropped, and, quite unfortunately, a four-year-old girl hurt during the squabble.

This recollection comes via Poke Streetz, a fan-run page dedicated to posting footage of Pokémon TCG restock disputes that go viral. The page posted a video on September 5, and the submitter and her boyfriend were allegedly fourth or fifth in line at the Lisbon, Connecticut, Target store.

It was around noon when two customers ahead of them allegedly cleared what remained of the Pokémon trading cards and wheeled them into a cart stashed in the men’s wear aisle. By the time the couple reached the self-checkout section, the shelf was nearly empty.

As for PokeStreetz, the account is transparent about what its footage covers and what it doesn’t. The account stated, “The full lead-up isn’t shown. Details come from submitted footage and one eyewitness account. Please do not identify or harass anyone.”

What was captured in the video was pretty obvious: a skirmish at the register, with one of the men throwing a punch at the boyfriend and knocking the phone out of his hand. He stumbled to the floor and crashed into a four-year-old bystander, who hurt her elbow. The boyfriend checked to see if she was hurt, and she could be heard crying.

A reported arrest, even as Target is yet to address the situation

As the altercation over the Pokémon Trading Cards escalated, the other man allegedly bolted and left his wallet at the self-checkout register, giving officers a clear description. According to PokeStreetz, police arrested the offender and Pokémon TCG scalper when he returned for the wallet, and both men were charged with trespassing in the store.

The incident landed in the middle of Target’s ongoing Pokémon 30th anniversary celebration, which the retailer has been shipping in phases. Police records, arrest logs, and trespass orders for the offenders and TCG scalpershave not been officially documented. Even Target has not yet addressed the Pokémon TCG scalping incident in Lisbon.

Buy the Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box on Amazon here