KALAMAZOO, MI -- Police reports released this week document the bizarre behavior accused mass murderer Jason Dalton has exhibited in his nearly 17 months in the Kalamazoo County Jail, from howling in his cell to talking about killing a deputy.

Dalton, 46, an Uber driver, is accused of going on a shooting rampage the night of Feb. 20, 2016 at three locations in Kalamazoo County. Dalton, of Cooper Township, faces six counts of murder, two counts of assault with intent to commit murder and eight felony firearm counts. His lawyer has filed a notice of intent to use an insanity defense.

The Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office has released more than 50 pages of jail incident reports involving Dalton under the Freedom of Information Act.

The most recent report, from June 16, documents a phone call of Dalton's that a deputy listened in on. The recipient of the phone call has been redacted.

"Jason explains how he would like to not shoot the guards that have mistreated him but cut them with a knife," Kalamazoo County Det. Sgt. Jim VanZile wrote in the report. "He describes how he would like to cut their throats and take one of his K-Bars (a military style knife) and shove up through their skulls."

Dalton also mentioned in the phone call wanting to kill a deputy, saying if he couldn't be with his kids the deputy shouldn't be able to, either.

"Jason seems to be blaming Deputy (redacted) for his actions in killing several people," VanZile wrote. "Jason says he hopes when he gets to prison he can get enough power to order a hit" on the deputy.

One of Dalton's cellmates told deputies he thought Dalton's mental state was deteriorating. The cellmate told a deputy Dalton said the sheriff's star represents the devil's cross, and said Dalton thought human sacrifices were being conducted in the basement of the jail.

"Please use caution when moving Mr. Dalton," a reporting officer warns in one incident report.

Another report indicates Dalton had tried to escape from the security garage at the Kalamazoo County Courthouse May 20, 2016, when he was waiting to be taken into a courtroom for his preliminary examination.

"The call came that Dalton was needed," Deputy Troy Miles wrote in the report. "The van door was opened and Dalton got out of the van, paused, then ran toward the exit. I grabbed Dalton and stopped him."

Dalton disrupted the courtroom and caused a delay in his preliminary exam during the testimony of shooting survivor Tiana Carruthers. While Carruthers was on the stand, Dalton started talking and tried to stand up from his seat at the defense table. The disruption caused Carruthers to break down on the stand and caused deputies to drag Dalton out of the courtroom.

The exam continued with Dalton appearing via video from the jail. According to police reports, Dalton had to be carried into the arraignment room at the jail. There, several deputies reported hearing Dalton say, "yeah, I shot her," "that's the woman I shot," and "I did shoot her," when Carruthers was testifying.

In May 2016, three days after Dalton disrupted the courtroom at his preliminary examination, he assaulted officers while being escorted back into his cell from the bathroom, according to police reports. Dalton refused deputies' commands to return to his cell after using the bathroom, then tried to get past the deputies and "aggressively charged" at two deputies. One deputy was sent to Bronson Methodist Hospital for a hand injury he sustained while Dalton tried to assault the two deputies, according to the police reports.

Days before that report, Dalton was seen displaying bizarre behavior. This behavior included Dalton howling inside his cell and Dalton telling a deputy he "forgot how to blink," according to police reports. Dalton also tried to escape that same day when a deputy opened his cell door to give him a meal.

The reports indicated sheriff's officials would pursue charges against Dalton for assaulting police officers, but Undersheriff Pali Matyas said Thursday he did not know if a case was submitted to the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor's Office.

In April 2017, a deputy found Dalton had scratched a message in pencil above his cell door: "I gave you everything. Don't let me down. You let me down (expletive). Now you burn."

An inmate also told deputies Dalton had solicited him to burn down Dalton's house in exchange for all of the flat-screen televisions in Dalton's house.

That day, the deputy also found excessive amounts of garbage, 30 bars of soap, several rolls of toilet paper, drink packets, staples and miscellaneous food items left over from meals. The deputy wrote up Dalton for having unauthorized property and material on the walls.

In February 2017, Dalton appeared to have gotten in a scuffle with another inmate. Dalton, whose face was red and t-shirt was torn, told deputies another inmate grabbed him while he was walking by.

The file also includes a copy of a handwritten lawsuit filed in federal court by a person purporting to be Dalton. It sought $10 million in punitive damages from Uber Technologies, Inc. claiming the company caused Dalton emotional distress and that he had "psychological damage because of Uber."

Authorities have said the lawsuit is bogus and that Dalton denies filing it.

An appellate attorney for Dalton is asking the Michigan Court of Appeals to consider blocking Dalton's statements to police from being admitted at trial. Dalton's trial is on hold until the appellate court decided whether it will hear his appeal.