INDIANAPOLIS — Former NFL quarterback and FOX Sports analyst Mark Sanchez faces multiple charges after allegedly confronting a 69-year-old truck driver and being stabbed during a physical altercation in a downtown Indianapolis alley early Saturday morning.
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears announced Sunday that Sanchez, 38, has been charged with battery resulting in injury, public intoxication and unlawful entry of a motor vehicle.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the incident began around 12:35 a.m. when Sanchez approached Perry Tole, a Restaurant Technologies employee who was servicing fryer oil at the Westin Hotel loading dock. Surveillance video from the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown shows Sanchez jogging through the alley before confronting Tole at his truck.
Police say Sanchez told Tole he couldn't park there and claimed to have spoken with hotel management. Tole, who didn't recognize Sanchez but assumed he was a hotel manager because he was well-dressed, noticed Sanchez smelled of alcohol and had slurred speech.
The affidavit states Sanchez climbed into Tole's truck cab and looked around, despite being told he wasn't allowed inside. When Tole tried to call his manager, Sanchez blocked him from getting his phone.
The situation escalated when Sanchez allegedly shoved Tole away from the truck. Tole pepper-sprayed Sanchez, who then "came at" Tole, prompting the truck driver to pull a knife in what he described as a "life-or-death situation," according to the affidavit.
Tole stabbed Sanchez multiple times during the fight before Sanchez fled north through the alley. Police found Sanchez at Loughmiller's Pub with stab wounds to his upper right torso. He was taken to Eskenazi Hospital in critical condition.
Sanchez told detectives he only remembered "grabbing for a window" and didn't know who injured him or where it happened.
"This incident should never have happened," Mears said. "What began as a disagreement between a 38-year-old former professional athlete and a 69-year-old man should not have escalated into violence or left anyone seriously injured."
Sanchez was in Indianapolis to call Sunday's Raiders-Colts game for FOX Sports but remains hospitalized in the ICU under sheriff's deputy supervision. He will be booked into jail upon his release from the hospital.
A knife was recovered from Tole's truck through a search warrant. The investigation remains ongoing.
IMPD announced the arrest on Saturday.
FOX gave an initial statement on the incident Saturday.
"Mark Sanchez was injured in Indianapolis on Saturday and is currently recovering in the hospital in stable condition," FOX said in a statement. "We are deeply grateful to the medical team for their exceptional care and support. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mark, and we ask that everyone please respect his and his family's privacy during this time."
Sanchez played 10 seasons in the NFL after being drafted fifth overall by the New York Jets in 2009. He joined FOX Sports as a college football analyst in 2019 and moved to NFL games as an analyst in 2021.