from www.sheboyganpress.com – A jail inmate with a history of mental illness broke off a sprinkler head in his cell and inserted several of the resulting metal shards into his penis, according to a criminal complaint filed Thursday.

Steven H. Phillips, of 2601-D Camelot Blvd., had been in jail since Jan. 4 after his probation agent placed a hold on him for violating probation rules, a jail employee said. The incident occurred Sunday afternoon in the segregated cell where Phillips was being held.

The incident is detailed in a criminal complaint charging Phillips with interference with firefighting equipment, a misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of nine months in jail.

A criminal complaint said correctional officers came to Phillips’ cell when fire alarms sounded and found water flowing from underneath the door. A bloody Phillips was standing beneath the sprinkler handling something below his waist.

Officers found Phillips attempting to insert a zip tie-like object into his penis. He eventually removed two pieces of zip tie and two pieces of metal.

This is the 12th criminal case filed against Phillips since 2007, but he has been convicted only once — of second-offense drunken driving.

Charges in nine other cases — misdemeanors including disorderly conduct, violating a restraining order, lewd and lascivious behavior and property damage — ended with a verdict of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. The court ruled in each case that Phillips committed the crime but was not mentally able to understand his actions at the time, turning him over to the state Department of Health and Family Services.

One other case was dismissed with no verdict.