I am trying to create a roof made completely of pulsing pistons

What I expected to happen was...:
That the sticky piston in the middle would push a redstone block upwards, powering the other pistons that would be on the same level as the redstone block.

What actually happened was...:
The bottom sticky piston got stuck and was powered on forever unless I removed the redstone block or the piston itself.

Steps to Reproduce:
1. One block above the ground, place a sticky piston facing up. On top of the sticky piston place a redstone block.
2. Put miscellaneous blocks. On each of the 4 sides of the redstone block. On top of these four blocks place 4 regular pistons. Remove the dirt blocks. (Stage 1 in the attached photo)
3. Place a redstone torch under the sticky piston (Stage 2 in photo)
4. Remove the torch and the piston will be powered forever (Stage 3 in photo)

*Edit:*
To duplicate this bug you do not need the 4 pistons around the middle one,
1. Place a sticky piston face up with a redstone block on it.
2. Dig under the piston and place a torch.
3. Remove the torch. Piston is always on.

And:
1. place 1 block on the ground and a sticky piston on it. Remove the block that is not the piston.
2. place a redstone block 2 blocks above the sticky piston.
(Problem does not occur as seen in picture two, stage 1) BUT:
3. Place a solid block under the sticky piston. (Piston is powered forever)
4. Remove the block under the piston. Still powered.