Police confiscated three silver-colored knitting needles from a 37-year-old man arrested Monday on suspicion of poking strangers over three days in Southeast Portland, court records show.

Justin C. Venable, 37, told police that the jabbings were related to his art and the FBI in Utah, a probable cause affidavit said. He reported to court staff at the county jail after his arrest that he has a diagnosed mental illness, but it isn’t specified in court documents.

He also reported taking Seroquel, prescription medication that can be used to help treat major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

Police said they received four reports from people who were jabbed with the objects apparently at random between Saturday and Monday while passing by Venable, and all but one occurred around Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard.

One man reported being scratched on the neck by the suspect Saturday, the affidavit said. A second man said he was poked under his ear Sunday and a third said he was poked on the cheek Monday. The fourth case wasn’t listed in the court papers.

Venable remains held Wednesday in the Multnomah County Detention Center on suspicion of harassment. He has pleaded not guilty.

-- Everton Bailey Jr.

ebailey@oregonian.com | 503-221-8343 |@EvertonBailey