INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Ex-NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez encountered a late-night conflict with a 69-year-old truck driver in a downtown Indianapolis alley, leading to Sanchez being pepper-sprayed and stabbed multiple times. The incident, which occurred early Saturday, resulted in criminal charges against the Fox Sports commentator, as detailed in court documents filed on Sunday.
According to the police affidavit, fueled by hotel surveillance and the driver’s testimony, Sanchez, who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, confronted a box truck driver near a hotel’s loading zones. The confrontation escalated, causing the driver to defensively brandish a knife when confronted outside the vehicle.
The affidavit, signed by a police officer, revealed that Sanchez sustained stab wounds to his upper right shoulder and was admitted to the hospital. As of early Sunday, Sanchez remained hospitalized. The affidavit also mentioned that the truck driver, identified as P.T., suffered a cheek laceration.
Sanchez was in stable condition, Fox Sports said Saturday. There was no immediate update Sunday.
His initial court hearing was set for Tuesday in a Marion County courtroom.
Sanchez stabbed multiple times
The situation intensified, prompting the driver to think, “’this guy is trying to kill me,’” and resort to using his knife as Sanchez advanced. The document indicated Sanchez was initially stabbed two or three times, with an additional stab inflicted as he approached the driver once more.
“Suddenly, P.T. saw Mr. Sanchez with a shocked expression, noticed him slowly turning before Sanchez fled northward in the alley,” the affidavit described.
Sanchez had traveled to Indianapolis to cover the Raiders-Colts game scheduled for Sunday. However, he instead faced charges including battery causing injury, unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle, and public intoxication — all classified as misdemeanors. Authorities obtained a warrant to retrieve Sanchez’s phone and clothing from the hospital, according to the document.
There were no immediate court records indicating whether Sanchez had legal representation yet.
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said Sunday that his office would “follow the facts and the law wherever they lead.”
“What began as a disagreement between a 38-year-old former professional athlete and a 69-year-old man should not have escalated into violence or left anyone seriously injured,” Mears said in a statement.
Fox Sports announcers acknowledge Sanchez’s absence Sunday
Sanchez told police at the hospital that all he could remember was grabbing for a window, the court document said. Sanchez said he didn’t know who else was involved or where the altercation happened.
“Friday night in Indianapolis, one of our team members, Mark Sanchez, was involved in an incident that, to be honest, we are still trying to wrap our heads around,” Curt Menefee said Sunday on Fox’s primary NFL pregame show. “At this time our thoughts and prayers are with Mark and his family and all of those involved.”
Fox Sports play-by-play announcer Chris Myers also acknowledged Sanchez’s absence on Sunday before introducing Sanchez’s replacement, Brady Quinn. Myers said he wanted to send thoughts and prayers to Sanchez and everyone involved in the incident.
Police officers found Sanchez with the stab wounds when they were dispatched to a downtown pub about 12:35 a.m. Saturday. The truck driver was found in the alley.
Details of the confrontation were disclosed in the affidavit, based on video footage and the truck driver’s statement to police.
The video showed a man believed to be Sanchez running in the alley toward the truck, the affidavit said. The driver works for a company that specializes in commercial cooking oil recycling and disposal, and he was performed his work duties, it said.
Sanchez opened the truck door and began talking to the driver, the affidavit said. Sanchez told the driver he couldn’t be at the loading dock and that Sanchez had spoken to the hotel manager, the document said. Sanchez smelled of alcohol and his speech was slurred, the driver told police.
Affidavit says Sanchez threw truck driver to ground
Sanchez followed the driver from side to side of the truck, the court document said. When the driver darted toward the driver’s door, video showed Sanchez “grabbing and throwing” the driver toward a hotel wall, it said. The fight continued against a dumpster and Sanchez threw the driver to the ground, it said.
Sanchez climbed into the truck but got out when told by the driver he wasn’t allowed in, it said. Sanchez repeated that he spoke to a manager and didn’t want the driver to replace fryer oil, the document said. Sanchez tried again to get into the truck and blocked the driver from calling his manager, it said.
Believing he was in danger, the driver grabbed pepper spray from his pocket and sprayed Sanchez’s face, it said. Sanchez wiped his face and advanced toward the driver again, it said.
The driver then pulled his knife and stabbed Sanchez as the ex-quarterback came at him, it said. The driver fell onto pallets on the ground, he told police.
“While P.T. was on the ground, he could only see the feet of Mr. Sanchez coming at him, making P.T. realize that he was in a life-or-death situation,” the affidavit said.
The driver made it to his feet and stabbed Sanchez the last time as Sanchez came at him, it said.
Sanchez had a 10-year NFL career before retiring in 2019. He appeared on ABC and ESPN for two years before joining Fox Sports as a game analyst in 2021. The Long Beach, California, native starred at Southern California before he was selected by the New York Jets with the fifth pick in the 2009 NFL draft. Sanchez also appeared in games with Philadelphia, Dallas and Washington.
Sanchez is married to actor Perry Mattfeld, a former USC cheerleader whose credits include “Shameless,” “In the Dark” and “Chad Powers.” She told Glamour recently that the couple had twin daughters in March.
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Schreiner reported from Shelbyville, Kentucky.
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