The Indiana man who was stabbed by former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez is no stranger to devastation.
Perry Tole, 69, was viciously attacked by Sanchez, 38, early Saturday morning while working on his route to collect kitchen grease from restaurants in downtown Indianapolis, according to a probable cause affidavit.
On Monday, distressing photographs emerged of Tole lying in a hospital bed with a significant wound on his face, a brace around his neck, and blood around him.
However, this is not the first time Tole has faced the unimaginable, as he was featured in a 2021 news story detailing the harrowing experience of his sister-in-law’s near-fatal incident when she was shot at a gas station 10 years earlier.
Marcy Birnell, Tole’s wife’s sister, sustained permanent injuries after being shot by a 15-year-old boy during a robbery at Village Pantry, a local convenience store, on October 21, 2011. She was working an overnight shift as a clerk at the time.
Tole was seen standing beside his relative, speaking about her resilience throughout the entire ordeal and how it forever altered her life as part of a local campaign to raise awareness.
‘She has lost her independence, her ability to be an individual living on her own, living her own life the way she wants to,’ Perry previously told Fox 59 News.
Now Tole is now in his sister-in-law’s shoes, but this time at the alleged hands of a Fox Sports analyst who he’s since sued.
Perry Tole, 69, the man who was allegedly stabbed by Mark Sanchez on Saturday night, is no stranger to violence as he spoke for his sister-in-law after she was shot in 2011 at an Indianapolis convenience store
Tole was left bloodied and bruised after the former allegedly attacked him. The trucker has since filed a lawsuit against him and Fox
His alleged victim, Perry Tole, 69, was also seen being rolled out of the alley on a gurney
A bloodied Mark Sanchez has been captured being placed into an ambulance in fresh images
Tole is suing him for assault/battery and also Fox for negligent hiring, retention and supervision, according to TMZ Sports.
Sanchez was arrested on Sunday on charges of battery with injury, public intoxication and unlawful entry of a motor vehicle.
But Marion County prosecutor Ryan Mears, after seeing the extent of the truck driver’s injuries, has upgraded the charges to a Level 5 felony battery of causing serious injury, which could see Sanchez jailed for up to six years if convicted.
Sanchez has not spoken publicly since the incident, but attorneys working on his behalf have filed a motion to waive Tuesday’s scheduled pretrial hearing and enter a plea of not guilty.
The former New York Jets star was in Indianapolis to call Sunday’s Raiders-Colts game, but was ultimately replaced by former Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn following the stabbing and arrest.
Sanchez was hospitalized in critical condition early Saturday morning after being stabbed in the chest during the altercation outside an Indianapolis pub, according to a probable cause affidavit reviewed by Daily Mail.
The former USC star was later arrested at an Indianapolis hospital after being accused of drunkenly instigating the brawl with Tole, resulting in serious injuries for both men.
In the legal filing, Tole not only came after Sanchez, but Fox as well.
In the suit, he reportedly states that Sanchez appeared intoxicated and instigated the fight, which caused him permanent disfigurement, loss of function, other physical injuries, emotional distress and other damages. Tole claims he has significant injuries to his head, jaw and neck.
He’s also targeted Fox after claiming the network should have known the ex-NFL star as a bad fit due to his ‘propensity for drinking and/or harmful conduct.’
Sanchez (pictured in 2024) was hospitalized in critical condition early Saturday morning after being stabbed in the chest during the altercation. He was then arrested and taken to the police station
Based on hotel security footage and testimony from Tole, who went by P.T. in the lawsuit, Sanchez is accused of drunkenly accosting the driver, who was trying to back his box truck into a hotel’s loading dock.
Tole told police Sanchez pursued him, entered his vehicle and threatened him, causing the driver to pepper spray his pursuer, according to the affidavit.
Undeterred, Sanchez allegedly pursued the driver and continued to strike the man, who fell back into a dumpster and onto pallets strewn about on the ground.
Tole then pulled out a knife and stabbed Sanchez several times in his chest because, as the driver told police, he believed ‘this guy is trying to kill me.’
Sanchez fled after being stabbed, according to the affidavit. Later, after a local bartender called 911, Sanchez was rushed to hospital in critical condition.
Tole later told police Sanchez smelled of alcohol and slurred his speech.
Tole has a passion for making music and attended the Jamaica School of Music, according to his biography.
He went on to become part of the progressive rock-reggae band, Native.
