WASHINGTON (TNND) — Former NFL quarterback and Fox Sports analyst Mark Sanchez is facing at least one new felony charge after a weekend fight ended with him being stabbed in Indianapolis by a 69-year-old man.
The prosecutor’s office announced a level 5 felony battery resulting in serious bodily injury charge added on to Sanchez’s misdemeanors.
“We are literally talking about people fighting about a parking spot,” said Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears during a news conference announcing the more serious charge.
"Once we were provided with additional information about the victim's current medical condition, it became clear to us that additional charges needed to be filed," Mears said.
Sanchez was stabbed and sent to the hospital to treat serious injuries after a drunken fight, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in the case. He was in town to call Sunday’s Colts game against the Las Vegas Raiders at the Lucas Oil Stadium.
He was charged on Oct. 4 with battery resulting in injury, public intoxication and unlawful entry of a motor vehicle. Sanchez’s cash bond for his misdemeanor charges was set at $300.
The initial hearing for this case was set for Oct. 7, but was waived. Updated bond information was not listed in the online court records. His next hearing is a pretrial conference scheduled for Nov. 4.
Additional charges against Sanchez could be filed if new evidence from the brawl emerges, according to Mears. Several search warrants that the Indianapolis police are investigating may lead to new evidence.
There is no information on Sanchez’s toxicology results or blood alcohol levels released.
According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, neither of the people involved in Saturday’s incident was from Indianapolis.
“I don’t care who you are. I don’t care what you do for a living. I don’t care where you live. If you come into our city, commit violence, we will use all the tools that are at our disposal to hold you accountable,” said Indianapolis Police Chief Chris Bailey.
What happened?
Court documents revealed the altercation began in downtown Indianapolis shortly before 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 4 after Sanchez confronted a 69-year-old man. The man parked his work box truck at a loading dock to collect used cooking oil.
Video evidence from the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown captured Sanches grabbing and throwing the man into an alleyway, according to court documents.
The 69-year-old man told police authorities he pepper-sprayed Sanchez to stop him, but the former NFL player wiped the spray away.
The man then pulled out his knife and stabbed Sanchez two or three times, thinking that he was “trying to kill” him, according to the police.
The man sustained injuries to his left cheek and was treated at the hospital. He has been released from the hospital, the police said. However, Sanchez was taken into the hospital in critical condition but later stabilized.
Sanchez remained hospitalized until early Monday.
Several top state and local Republicans quickly criticized Indianapolis leaders over violence and safety conditions downtown after the news was reported.
Before the announcement of Sanchez’s arrest, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun and Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith posted to X about out-of-control violence in Indianapolis. The posts have since been deleted, but Indianapolis Councilor Michael-Paul Hart’s remained on X as of Oct. 6
Mears [criticized Braun for his post](https://x.com/ryanmearsindy/status/1974830323763413035) on Oct. 5, accusing the Indiana governor of using the incident to “exploit senseless violence for political gain without knowing any facts.”
Braun quickly responded to Mear, posting to X.
"If one deleted tweet finally gets @RyanMearsIndy to start paying attention to the violent crime epidemic in our capital city, putting violent criminals behind bars, and keeping Indianapolis safe then I will start deleting more tweets," Braun said in his [follow-up post](https://x.com/GovBraun/status/1974985537925853360).
Sanchez was drafted to the New York Jets in 2009, where he played through 2013. He then played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 2014 to 2015, the Denver Broncos in 2016, and the Dallas Cowboys in 2016; the Chicago Bears in 2017; and the Washington Commanders in 2018. Sanchez joined Fox as an analyst in 2021.