Mark Sanchez is facing felony criminal charges over the incident that occurred Saturday.
INDIANAPOLIS (CN) — A 69-year-old truck driver is suing Mark Sanchez and his current employer Fox for injuries he says he suffered after a fight with the former NFL player early Saturday morning.
Tole, who is 69-years old, claims that he was approached by an intoxicated Sanchez while working as a truck driver for a company that recycles and disposes of commercial cooking oil. Tole was at a loading dock near the Westin Hotel in downtown Indianapolis on Oct. 4, around 12:35 AM, when the altercation occurred.
According to criminal court documents, Sanchez approached Tole while he was sitting in his truck and told him that he could not be there. The two men then began to argue inside, and reports say Sanchez physically prevented Tole from using his cell phone to call his work manager. Tole then is said to have sprayed Sanchez with pepper spray, but Sanchez continued to advance, which prompted Tole to pull a knife and strike Sanchez a few times before being thrown back into a dumpster and falling onto the ground. Tole claims Sanchez continued to strike him, and after he was able to stand, he stabbed Sanchez a final time before Sanchez disengaged and left the scene.
Both men received medical care, Tole for his lacerations and Sanchez for his stab wounds.
For his role in the altercation, prosecutors have Sanchez with three misdemeanors for unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle, battery and public intoxication.
On Monday, Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears announced they amended the charges against Sanchez to also include a felony count of battery resulting in serious bodily injury, which carries a penalty of one to six years in jail.
“This was a situation that did not need to occur,” said Mears during a press conference Monday. “We are literally talking about people fighting over a parking space.”
Tole’s is also seeking damages from Fox Corp. for negligent hiring and supervision, claiming the company should have known that Sanchez was unfit for the job.
“Defendant, Fox Corporation, knew or should have known about Defendant, Sanchez’s unfitness as an employee, propensity for drinking and/or harmful conduct,” Tole says in the lawsuit.
Sanchez was a standout quarterback at the University of Southern California, and during his 10-year NFL career, he led the New York Jets to two AFC Championship games.
An initial hearing on Sanchez’s criminal charges set for Oct. 7 was canceled, and according to the Marion County Court’s website, the next hearing is scheduled for Nov. 5.
Fox Sports News did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the civil lawsuit.
Categories / Criminal, Sports
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