Mother of 'knockout game' suspect claims he's mentally unstable

HOUSTON – A man charged with assaulting a woman near a downtown public park is not mentally competent, according to his mother.

Sidney St. Jules attacked the woman Thursday at the corner of McKinney and La Branch streets just outside Discovery Green Park in downtown Houston. The assault took place in broad daylight at the height of rush hour, and was witnessed by dozens of people.

Precinct 1 deputy constable's said last week they believed Sidney St. Jules, 24, was playing the 'knockout game' when he launched an unprovoked attack against a woman, also 24.

"He suffers from schizophrenia. That's all you need to know," said a woman who claimed to be St. Jules mother. 

VIDEO: St. Jules mother talks about her son after he appeared in court

The woman declined to give her name, but attended Sidney St. Jules' initial appearance before a judge Monday morning.

"He has not always been like this. This has been an ongoing situation for the last three years, and I begged and asked Harris County to help me and assist me, and that hasn't happened," the woman told Channel 2's Joel Eisenbaum.

Investigators said the woman had been leaving work with friends when St. Jules walked up and punched her in the face. They said St. Jules ran but the assault was witnessed by two deputy constables who happened to be driving by.

Those deputies chased down St. Jules and, with the help of other officers, cornered him.
In dashcam video, St. Jules can be seen running in front of the patrol car.

Dashcam video from a Precinct 1 deputy constable's patrol car shows the moments before and just after the alleged crime.

"At this point, we have no idea what the motive behind this crime was, but if it turns out to be a hate crime, we'll pursue that as well," Jeff McShan, spokesperson for the Harris County District Attorney's Office, said.

Court records reveal that St. Jules was convicted almost six months ago for a similar unprovoked attack against a man.