Photo: Gregor Richardson
Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond, of Dunedin, said a 47-year-old man was picking up cigarettes from the gutter when he was accused by the driver of a parked car of scratching his vehicle.
The driver hit the other man, who was knocked out for about 30 seconds and was believed to have had a small seizure.
There were several witnesses and police were following positive lines of inquiry.
A police spokeswoman said officers responded to a report of an assault about 12.15pm.
A St John spokesman said one person with moderate injuries was taken to Dunedin Hospital in an ambulance.
A nearby cafe worker heard people yelling in the street outside.
She heard one person say "leave my car alone".
Police inquiries are ongoing.
