This has got to be one of the strangest crimes ever: an assault with ... (poor) hedgehog!
Police said William Singalargh, 27, had hurled the hedgehog about 5m (16ft) at a 15-year-old boy.
"It hit the victim in the leg, causing a large, red welt and several puncture marks," said Senior Sgt Bruce Jenkins, in the North Island town of Whakatane.
It was unclear whether the hedgehog was still alive when it was thrown, though it was dead when collected as evidence.
The police spokesman said the suspect was arrested "for assault with a weapon, namely the hedgehog."
Link (photo: a West European Hedgehog, by TygerTyger [Wikipedia]) - Thanks Paul Cooper and Edward!
* disclamer disclamer Oh I think they did!
(sonic the hedghog if you don't know)