Former New York Jets quarterback turned NFL analyst Mark Sanchez now faces a felony charge after a stabbing incident in Indianapolis. Sanchez, who was arrested Saturday and charged with three misdemeanors, was also charged with Level 5 felony battery Monday, per authorities.
A Level 5 felony battery charge can be applied in the case of serious bodily injury to another person. The charge can carry a one-to-six year sentence and a $10,000 fine.
Sanchez is accused of attacking a 69-year-old truck driver in an Indianapolis alley. The man, fearing for his life, reportedly stabbed Sanchez multiple times to stop the alleged attack.
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While there was some uncertainty over what happened initially, security cameras at the scene reportedly align closely with the story the alleged victim told police. The man, who was identified in police reports as P.T., arrived at the Westin hotel to exchange cooking oil from the establishment. When he arrived, P.T. claimed that Sanchez said P.T. could not be there. Sanchez then allegedly followed the driver, eventually preventing him from reaching his cellphone.
The situation escalated to the point of physical danger, causing P.T. to pull out pepper spray and use it on Sanchez. The former quarterback was fazed for only a moment, and then allegedly attacked P.T. Fearing for his life, P.T. then took out a knife and stabbed Sanchez a few times. Sanchez allegedly continued the assault until he was stabbed one more time. Sanchez then reportedly ran off. He was later found at a nearby bar. Both men were hospitalized.
Despite being stabbed, Sanchez is the one facing charges from the incident. Graphic images of the alleged victim circulated on social media Sunday. Those images appear to show serious bodily harm to the alleged victim, which may have led to the Level 5 felony being applied.
While Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears did not confirm every single detail in the alleged attack, he did bring up the serious injuries sustained by the driver. Mears also touched on the absurd escalation of the incident, saying it started with “people fighting over a parking space.”
Indianapolis police chief Chris Bailey issued a strong statement on the charges Monday.
The man that Sanchez allegedly attacked has since filed a lawsuit against both him and Fox, according to both TMZ and CBS4 Indy’s Max Lewis. He is suing Sanchez for assault and battery, and Fox for negligent hiring, retention and supervision. He is seeking an unspecified amount of damages.
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Sanchez’s brother, Nick, released a statement on Monday afternoon on behalf of the family.
“This has been a deeply distressing time for everyone involved,” he said, via Fox59’s Angela Ganote. “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.”
After retiring from the NFL following the 2018 season, Sanchez became an analyst. He currently works for Fox Sports and was expected to call Sunday’s game in Indianapolis prior to his arrest. Sanchez was replaced by Brady Quinn on that broadcast.
Fox Sports broadcasters made multiple statements Sunday, saying they were still gathering information on the incident and sending thoughts and prayers to Sanchez and everyone else involved.
