Police: Man mutilates own penis under the influence of 'magic' mushrooms
A 41-year-old Columbus, Ohio man was found naked and bloody on the grounds of Ypsilanti Middle School last week after mutilating his genitals while reportedly high on hallucinogenic mushrooms, police said.
Deputies were called to the school, located at 105 N. Mansfield St. in Ypsilanti Township, around 1 a.m. June 18 for an alarm. Sgt. Geoff Fox of the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office said the man broke a window at the school, which set off the alarm.
The 41-year-old was near the school on his knees, naked, with blood all over his legs, Fox said.
“He mutilated his genitals with his bare hands,” Fox said. "He was doing a lot of yelling and screaming."
Police reported that a lot of what the man was saying wasn't coherent. Police subdued the man and took him to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, where he remains in stable condition.
When the man was well enough to be interviewed, he told police he was in the Ypsilanti area visiting friends and had taken hallucinogenic — or "magic" — mushrooms. He didn't remember much after that, according to police.
“He doesn’t have much recollection about anything that happened,” Fox said.
An initial toxicology report has been performed, but it didn't turn anything up, Fox added. More extensive toxicology testing is being done.
The man does not have a history of mental illness, according to Fox.
Police will seek burglary charges against the man.
John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
justcary
Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 4:45 a.m.
I'm feeling better now. You yanked the dumb remarks referring to the UM/OSU rivalry!
Dexter Man
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 9:25 p.m.
Guess those mushrooms were magic.
Blue Marker
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 11:58 a.m.
I find this to be classic AnnArbor.com stuff. You print a story that by its headline alone will create a response from the public and then spend the rest of your time deleting responses. When there are more deleted responses than not you may need to re-visit your policies. The way it is now basically all you can say it "thoughts and prayers to the family" or you're censored. Is AnnArbor.com so afraid they'll offend someone? Then perhaps they should run the mutilated penis story in the first place. I don't even know why I bothered to write this, they won't put this up either. By the way, my thoughts and prayers go out to the family.
DJBudSonic
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 8:20 p.m.
This certainly teaches us that drugs can be bad for you. We know drugs carry huge costs to society. Another lesson? Know your source.
jcj
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 7:30 p.m.
Amazing how many commentors have had "experience' with this kind of stuff! That's whats scary!
Bill
Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 2:13 a.m.
Many of us still have good forty year memories. Last week, or why I just came into this room to get something, not so much.
justcary
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 4:42 p.m.
I would be most eager to see followup on his blood work and whether those mushrooms were laced with PCP or such. Chances are that will be protected information under HIPPA, but it would be excellent public information whether the mushrooms were adulterated or not. I don't know much about psychedelic drugs, but aren't you supposed to have a buddy when you do them? Was that this guy's biggest mistake?
treetowncartel
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 6:57 p.m.
FYI, it is HIPAA, not HIPPA
Hmm
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 3:24 p.m.
I still think it was something PCP related. I have never heard of shrooms doing this to anyone. Ever.
L'chaim
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 3:16 p.m.
Burglary charges?!
Lonnie
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 3:01 p.m.
If this Sunday's printed paper has a article with picture of this disgusting event on the front page like the very disturbing herion shoot-up picture on the front page of this past Sunday's paper, I will cancel my home delivery subscription. This is too much, it is sensationalism.
djacks24
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 2:56 p.m.
Nothing magic about those mushrooms!
Gerry
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 2 p.m.
I see an extremely affective public service announcement to keep kids away from drugs...
Brad
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 4:30 p.m.
Just a minor retooling of that old "This is your brain on drugs. Any questions?" PSA.
L'chaim
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 3:19 p.m.
effective, not affective. But yeah.
ArthGuinness
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 2:59 p.m.
It's true that it could be overly emotional. It's also possible that it will be an effective PSA.
Tano
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 1:03 p.m.
"Police will seek burglary charges against the man." That seems like totally piling on. What a waste of time and effort. The guy has suffered more than enough punishment, by his own hand.
Boo Radley
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 7:48 p.m.
They probably have to file burglary charges in order to seek restitution for the cost of repairing the window. The school system shouldn't have to absorb the repair costs.
Faygo
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 12:31 p.m.
No Photos?
John of Saline
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 9:15 p.m.
Thankfully.
Alan Goldsmith
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 12:11 p.m.
Who says journalism is dead?
Gramma
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 12:09 p.m.
Hallucinogenics are potentially dangerous drugs, especially if they are combined with other drugs. I remember, back in the day, when LSD was big. Some of the people who took acid trips never came back. Hallucinations became a permanent part of their lives. Marijuana is a mild hallucingen, which is part of the reason people sometimes become paranoid while using it. The risk of this increases with increased use and length of time used.
Jake C
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 4:40 p.m.
Apart from your first sentence, very little of what you just said is accurate.
Hmm
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 3:28 p.m.
So you're trying to insinuate that if someone smokes cannabis for an extended time frame they're liable to do this? Is that what your'e saying??
Bubba43
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 11:25 a.m.
Too bad for that guy. Hope he gets some mental help.
Basic Bob
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 11:57 p.m.
And some plastic surgery.
jns131
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 10:44 a.m.
Slow week at the news desk?
justcary
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 4:22 p.m.
Are you kidding me? In the middle of a rash of drug overdoses in the county, a guy does mushrooms (a drug many consider natural and sacred, although here possibly laced with other stuff), and freaks out ripping off his penis and scrotum and nearly dies, it's reported nationally and in the UK, and you think it's not newsworthy? Holy cow, what exactly are you hoping for when you click on annarbor.com? This is NEWS!
Grimey
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 8:39 a.m.
Honestly, I'm surprised that this didn't happen in Ann Arbor.
Mark
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 6:35 p.m.
No it didn't but it does say the guy is from Columbus.
PWJT8D
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 10:35 a.m.
I'm not surprised it happened in Ypsi.
a2deliveryguy
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 8:22 a.m.
I think his actions are enough of a punishment... I
Billy
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 6:56 a.m.
"An initial toxicology report has been performed, but it didn't turn anything up, Fox added. More extensive toxicology testing is being done." There are some specific tests that have to be done to detect Psilocybin metabolites. REMEDi is one of them. I'm willing to bet it was datura(jimson weed/moonflower) and not mushrooms....that or the guy has never EVER taken any kind of psychotropic before and had a very bad "reaction" to it. Mushrooms shouldn't do that to you....EVER. Datura on the other hand....that'll make you do REALLY bad things that you won't remember.
alan
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 5:24 p.m.
Are you really critiquing the relative efficacy and safety of hallucinogenic recreational drugs?
Chimay
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 10:35 a.m.
Exactly. I don't think this guy knew exactly what he took - mushrooms don't have this result.
bunnyabbot
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 6:16 a.m.
I don't know why I read this, I feel like I will be sick, just about to go to bed and any pleasant (romance novel type) dreams I might have had are now unlikely to take place. :( and I was so looking forward to some dream cardio.
Ben Petiprin
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 4:33 a.m.
I had a pretty bad time on Mushrooms at one point. The cops had to grab me too that night, I'm glad I didn't do anything permanent. Good luck to this guy.
Crusader 53
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 3:10 p.m.
Admitting to drug use on a public forum , possibly using your real name , that could be seen by a perspective employer using a simple Google search for Ben Petiprin. Really Benjamin ? Hopefully the drug use is a thing of the past.
Youwhine
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 3:09 a.m.
From what I've heard, this is an EXTREMELY conservative retelling of what happened. I am guessing aa.com does not want to make all of its readers vomit on their keyboards...
Solitude
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 8:34 p.m.
I believe I've heard the same, and I'd say that "EXTREMELY" is an EXTREME understatement. Maybe WCSD didn't release all the details...I saw tape of one of their Sgts being interviewed about it, and he was avoiding a detailed description of the damage, also, even when asked for specifics by the reporter. I'm not sure anyone would believe all the damage I was told this guy did to himself anyway.
A2Realilty
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 2:03 a.m.
"He was doing a lot of yelling and screaming." Sounds legit.
pseudo
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 1:51 a.m.
can't help but notice the lengthy delay in sheriff's acknowledgement of the incident. not the most transparent way to operate.
A2centsworth
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 12:16 a.m.
Why is this newsworthy?
justcary
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 3:51 p.m.
I'll take REAL stories about the hazards of recreational drug use any day over apocryphal tales. Thank you for reporting this in detail!
Boo Radley
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 11:52 a.m.
Oh ... and I forgot to include naked and covered with blood ....
Boo Radley
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 11:33 a.m.
Why? .... An out of control man high on drugs, seriously injured, yelling and screaming, and having broken a window out of a middle school .... Really?
PWJT8D
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 10:34 a.m.
Instead of scrolling past you clicked on it just like the rest of us did so you had just as much curiosity as the rest of us.
Elouise
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 6:20 a.m.
Should be on the "World's Dumbest"
BernieP
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 1:50 a.m.
Because Enquiring minds want to know !
actionjackson
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 1:33 a.m.
Because it is very unusual!
Momma G
Mon, Jun 24, 2013 : 11:53 p.m.
Sick! With friends like he came to visit, he doesn't need enemies! Feel sorry for the police who had to deal with him, too.
ypsituckian
Mon, Jun 24, 2013 : 11:51 p.m.
I think this is one of those TMI type of news reports.
John of Saline
Mon, Jun 24, 2013 : 11:07 p.m.
Drugs are bad, mmmkay?
justcary
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 3:50 p.m.
South Park references are always helpful in any comic or tragic or ironic circumstance, mmmkay?
northside
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 11:20 a.m.
Simplistic conclusions about single events are bad, mmmkay?
Em
Mon, Jun 24, 2013 : 11:03 p.m.
Wonder what his friends were doing while he was out of control? Crazy
Elouise
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 6:20 a.m.
Probably the rest of the batch of shrooms...
Angry Moderate
Mon, Jun 24, 2013 : 10:59 p.m.
This sounds like he took amanita muscaria, NOT psilocybin mushrooms, which are typically what people mean by "magic mushrooms."
Bill
Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 2:05 a.m.
Thanks for clarifying this. I certainly never heard any stories like this about psilocybin forty years ago.
Jack Gladney
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 1:24 p.m.
Sounds to me like he took some Orange Sunshine. What you need to do with this when you have a bad trip is just chill out, have a beer and put on some Allmand Brothers music.
Ypsituckyguy
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 12:58 p.m.
Or they could have been good old table mushrooms laced with PCP or something like that. This is scary stuff.
Billy
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 7:01 a.m.
Oh wow I completely forgot about a. muscaria...mainly because those are NOT the kind of shrooms you should eat. I was thinking datura...but a. muscaria is supposed to be extra unpredictable with it's effects....much like datura is, so that sounds about right. I think you can legally acquire a. muscaria too, just order it off the intarwebz.
John of Saline
Mon, Jun 24, 2013 : 11:42 p.m.
Not magic, but "possessed" mushrooms?
Ellis Sams
Mon, Jun 24, 2013 : 10:47 p.m.
He might be a good spokesperson on public service announcements citing the dangers recreational drug use.
Brad Pritts
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 3:38 a.m.
When I was in jr high school shop class, the teacher brought in an older student who had cut his hand severely in a bandsaw accident, and had the fellow show the stitches as a warning of the risks. I cannot imagine this poor fellow doing the same..............
81wolverine
Mon, Jun 24, 2013 : 10:15 p.m.
Geez. I'm sure the AA.com writers weren't lining up to do the write-up on this story.
Arieswoman
Mon, Jun 24, 2013 : 10:07 p.m.
This is so sad.
Hmm
Tue, Jun 25, 2013 : 3:25 p.m.
Why? He did it to himself you shouldn't feel sorry for him
treetowncartel
Mon, Jun 24, 2013 : 10 p.m.
Oh my, that is unthinkable
Jonathan Blutarsky
Mon, Jun 24, 2013 : 9:58 p.m.
Can't wait to read the comments that are sure to follow...
GingerSpice
Mon, Jun 24, 2013 : 10:43 p.m.
Haha I thought the same thing...as soon as I finished cringing at what I read. Man!