Ex-NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez arrested after st@bbing inc!dent The Fox Sports analyst is facing battery charges after an alleged altercation in Indianapolis where he was hospitalized after being stabbed.Kyusung Gong/AP
Former NFL quarterback and current Fox Sports color commentator Mark Sanchez, who was a**ested for multiple misdemeanors following a physical alterc@tion this weekend, is now facing a felony charge of battery involving serious bodily !njury, prosecutors in Indianapolis announced.
The more serious charge was added after investigators learned of the severity of the victim’s injur!es, Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said at a news conference on Monday.
“This was a situation that did not need to occur,” Mears said.
“The allegations involve a 38-year-old man becoming involved in an altercat!on with a 69-year-old man who sustained sign!ficant and very ser!ous injur!es” over a dispute about parking, Mears said.
Other charges are possible, Mears said, noting they are still in “the early stages of this investigat!on.”
Former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez a**ested after st@bbing inc!dent that sent him to hospital
Early Saturday morning, Sanchez allegedly approached a 69-year-old truck driver who was doing his assigned work at a hotel loading dock and “escalated a dispute about the vict!m” parking there, according to police and prosecutors. Sanchez allegedly climbed into the truck and kept the driver from calling for help before a f!ght broke out, according to court records.
The victim said Sanchez shoved him when he tried to get his phone, and he felt he was “in physical d@nger,” so he pepper-sprayed Sanchez, according to court documents.
When Sanchez allegedly advanced toward him again, the vict!m said he thought, “this guy is trying to k!ll me,” so he pulled out a kn!fe, “and when Mr. Sanchez came at him,” the vict!m st@bbed Sanchez several times, according to court documents.
The victim said he went “flying back into the dumpster and falling onto the pallets on the ground,” and that he “was not aware of what Mr. Sanchez was phys!cally doing to him, whether he was punch!ng him or otherwise strik!ng him,” court document said. The vict!m said he could only see Sanchez’s feet “coming at him,” and once the vict!m stood up, he st@bbed Sanchez again, the documents said.
Sanchez suffered several stab wounds to his torso, while the vict!m “suffered a severe laceration to the side of his face, penetrating all the way through his left cheek,” according to court documents.
Indianapolis ABC affiliate WRTV obtained this photo, with the black bar in place, showing who his family says is the alleged victim in the hospital.
Multiple angles of surveillance footage captured the incident and witnesses have come forward, Mears said.
Sanchez was a**ested at the hospital and initially charged with three misdemeanors: battery with injury, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle and public intoxication, police said.
Sanchez has waived an initial court hearing set for Tuesday for the misdemeanor charges. A pretrial conference hearing has been set for Nov. 4 for the updated case.
The sentence for the felony charge could be one to six years, Mears said.
The victim has filed a civil suit against Sanchez and Fox.
In a statement to ABC News, Sanchez’s brother, Nick, said, “This has been a deeply distressing time for everyone involved. Mark and our family are incredibly grateful for the concern, love, and support we’ve received over the past few days.”
“Mark remains under medical care for the serious injuries he sustained and is focused on his recovery as the legal process continues. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the first responders and medical staff,” the statement read.
Sanchez was in Indianapolis as part of the broadcasting crew for Sunday’s game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Indianapolis Colts. He did not end up calling the game.
Indianapolis Police Chief Christopher Bailey said Monday, “I don’t care who you are, I don’t care what you do for a living. … If you come into our city, commit violence, we will use all the tools at our disposal to hold you accountable.”
Sanchez was the No. 5 overall pick by the New York Jets in 2009 after leading USC to a 12-1 record and victory over Penn State in the Rose Bowl. He led the Jets to back-to-back AFC Championship appearances in his first two seasons, but went just 14-17 with 39 touchdowns and 36 interceptions in his next two seasons.
He had brief stops in Philadelphia, Dallas and Washington, but never played in the playoffs again after his first two seasons.
