In a video interview that looks at times like a Stephen Colbert spoof and at other times like a reasonably argued free-speech case, WJZ TV went to the state mental hospital, Spring Grove Hospital Center, and spoke with the man arrested in February for allegedly placing a fake toilet-bomb in Towson.

In a report aired last night, Duane G. Davis told reporter Adam May that the toilet should not have been interpreted as a bomb because of the electrical devices on (“it was a old TV, an old cell phone”) and answered the question, “what was the point of these toilets?” this way:

“Jesus had a cross, Martin Luther King had a dream, Malcolm had a gun and Shorty had a toilet… ’cause we all have [expletive] to deal with,” said Davis, who has gone by the nickname “Shorty.”

“The toilets represent how America treats the underclass and the voiceless. You treat us like [expletive]. No matter what color you are, how much money you got, how poor you are, everyone uses a toilet. Picasso used soup cans; I use a toilet.”

Sounds like your basic visionary artist. Or is he a danger to himself or others? Reporter May said Davis’ doctors wouldn’t talk to him for the story. Meanwhile, Davis remains in Spring Grove until a hearing scheduled in April, WJZ reports.

Here’s a link to the Sun story detailing the specific charges against Davis. The charging document says he was accused of having a “phoney [sic] destruction device” and “false statement – destruction device.”