Police: Man Used Hedgehog As Weapon
http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=456&sid=1381855
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - A New Zealand man has been accused of assault with prickly weapon _ a hedgehog.
Police allege that William Singalargh picked up the hedgehog and threw it several yards to hit a 15-year-old boy in the North Island east coast town of Whakatane on Feb. 9.
"It hit the victim in the leg, causing a large, red welt and several puncture marks," police Senior Sgt. Bruce Jenkins said Monday. The teen did not need medical treatment, he added.
The Herald on Sunday newspaper reported that it was not known whether the hedgehog was dead or alive at the time of the attack, but that it was dead when collected as evidence.
Jenkins said Singalargh, 27, was arrested shortly after the incident on a charge of assault with a weapon. He is expected to appear in court again on April 17.
His lawyer, Rebecca Plunket, said Singalargh intends to plead innocent. The maximum penalty for the charge is five years in prison.
While using a hedgehog as a weapon in an assault is uncommon, Jenkins said, "People often get charged with assault for throwing things at other people."
lol threw a hedgehog at him. That's one of the most absurd things I've ever heard.
Oh, for crying out loud, this whole thing was blown way out of proportion! Like I told the police officer, I was in Fly Formation and it's just one of those things that occurs in a Team Battle. Last time I checked, Thunder Shoot was legal. I'm so taking the game manual to court on the 17th.
"People often get charged with assault for throwing things at other people."
Well said, Mr. Jenkins. Well said.
Are we talking about one of those little pygmy hedgehogs, or one of those really big ones?
There's only one kind of hedgehog here in NZ, and (uncurled) it's about the length of a DVD case. So they're reasonably heavy curled up, I don't think one could be thrown that far (several yards it says - just a few metres, isn't it?). We don't have echidnas or porcupines here, though (so we are limited to medium sized spike mortars).
Bonus fact: The 'wh' in 'Whakatane' (where this incident occured) is pronounced as an 'f' sound. There is also a place called Whakapapa.
"Fhakapapa?" That sounds dirty XD
Hmm, I suppose a hedgehog that big would hurt if one was hit by one.
But how could any throw such a cute critter?
Well, it's easy Kaze; you just lift it up and chuck it like you would, say, a big, prickly rock.
...or you're just angry and the nearest thing to throw is a hedgehog. 😛 Logic and cuteness do not enter the thought process here.
Kaze? Uh, that's Unicron, Tergo!
We do look alike, don't we?
how'd he manage to pick it up in the first place? oo;
He was wearing steel gloves at the time, in case he might need to hurl cacti or something similar. You never know.
or just work gloves
I didn't think hedgehogs would be so prickly that gloves would be required to handle them. To me they've always seemed like a poor man's porcupine.
Of course, I say this without ever having held one before.
From my experience, holding a hedgehog is like holding one of those soft bristled brushes, even when it's curled up.
I dunno, if youv'e ever handle a hedgie of the size indicated, you'l find that even if you just stroke the critter, you'll find spines where you really don't expect...
I feel bad for the hedgehog. o_0 Who the hell would throw an animal at someone like that.
~T2K
Who the hell would throw an animal at someone like that.
Here's my answer:
Gimme an I, Gimme a D, Throw me another I, Roll over an O, Toss that T, and Slide me an S, and what do we get? 8D
IDIOTS! - And Thar is Your answer! 
That's not how you spell Knuckles the Echinda, Springheart. :O
That's not how you spell Knuckles the Echinda, Springheart. :O
...
...
ouch!
That's not how you spell Knuckles the Echinda, Springheart. :O
...
...
ouch!
Seconded.
or just work gloves
Hedgehogs have been clearly known to shred through thick armor easily when curled up and spinning
That said, I had a hedgehog once - not one of these big kinds - and even if curled up you could pick it up and hold it carefully. The only time the spikes were really dangerous was when it was being unsociable and would kind of try to kind of jump at you back first. Think Bowser's up-smash in SSB.
or just work gloves
Hedgehogs have been clearly known to shred through thick armor easily when curled up and spinning
That said, I had a hedgehog once - not one of these big kinds - and even if curled up you could pick it up and hold it carefully. The only time the spikes were really dangerous was when it was being unsociable and would kind of try to kind of jump at you back first. Think Bowser's up-smash in SSB.
They are cute little critters, aren't they? I had two of 'em once.
...Did I miss something? I wasn't going for a Knuckles joke, Ya moook! XDD *Chuckles* Gah, you folks and your fancy-pants ideas!
"The teen did not need medical treatment, he added."
well..........yeah. it was a freaking hedgehog, i'm sure it hurts. prolly not that bad though lol
