A 24-year-old man has been deemed not criminally responsible for assaulting a Hasidic Jewish father in front of his three young children at a Montreal park. The ruling was issued by a Quebec Court judge on Monday following a psychiatric evaluation that indicated Sergio Yanes Preciado was suffering from a mental disorder, likely schizophrenia, at the time of the incident.

Preciado faced a charge of assault causing bodily harm stemming from the August 8 attack in the Parc-Extension neighborhood. The incident was recorded by a witness. According to the psychiatric assessment, the victim, a 32-year-old father, was walking in Dickie-Moore Park with his children when Preciado sprayed water at him. The father approached Preciado for an explanation, which led to a physical confrontation.

The report states that Preciado allegedly pushed the victim and struck him in the face until he fell. He then continued to hit the victim in the neck and head using his fists, knees, and feet. During the assault, Preciado reportedly took the victim's kippah, which had fallen to the ground, and threw it into a nearby splash pad.

The attack has drawn significant condemnation from Jewish organizations and political figures. However, the psychiatric assessment suggests that while police considered antisemitism as a potential motive, it is deemed "improbable." Doctors Samuel Lavergne and Mathieu Dufour from the Philippe-Pinel Institute noted that Preciado had not previously exhibited any hostility toward the Jewish community and would likely have acted similarly toward individuals of other faiths.

The report also highlights Preciado's deteriorating mental health over the past year. He began isolating himself, stopped attending a CEGEP program, and ceased working in April. His parents expressed concern for his well-being, prompting his mother to contact police in June for assistance. However, police determined that Preciado, who had no prior criminal record, did not pose a danger to himself or others.

The psychiatric evaluation revealed that Preciado harbored "delusional ideas" regarding "energy exchanges" between people and felt persecuted by others. He believed that individuals were either trying to project negative energy onto him or absorb his energy. The report indicates that these thoughts may have influenced his actions during the attack. Preciado claimed he threw water at the victim playfully and felt threatened when the father approached him, leading him to believe he was acting in self-defense.

Preciado remains in custody at the Montreal General Hospital. According to Patricia Johnson, a spokesperson for Quebec’s prosecution service, he will be monitored by the Commission d’examen des troubles mentaux, which will assess his risk to the community and determine whether he will continue to be detained or released under certain conditions.