NORMAL - Police have arrested a youngster who allegedly poked other students in the buttocks with a pin as they walked the halls of Normal Community West High School. More arrests may be pending.

One student was taken to the hospital Wednesday as a precaution.

The youngster, whose name hasn't been released because of his age, is charged with aggravated battery and is in his parents' custody.

One or two other students also may be charged, Normal Police Chief Kent Crutcher said Thursday.

"I hope this sends a message to the student population, not only at this school, that sort of thing will be dealt with swiftly and severely," Crutcher said. "They may not have meant any harm, but unfortunately they did create harm."

The pinpricks likely were the result of "hallway trickery or antics," but didn't cause serious injuries, he said.

What makes this a chargeable offense, rather than an internal school issue, is that it wasn't a harmless prank between friends. The incidents involved "innocent victims," penetrated skin and required medical attention, Crutcher said.

Police were called to the school, 501 N. Parkside Road, about 3:45 p.m. Wednesday. No fighting was reported.

Crutcher did not know the ages or grade levels of any of the students involved.

The student taken to BroMenn Regional Medical Center initially didn't think anything of feeling the pinprick, officials said. "The boy went to a make-up test and then got worried," said Unit 5 Superintendent Gary Niehaus.

Pantagraph reporters Ryan Denham and Sharon K. Wolfe contributed to this story.