By BRUCE SCHREINER and MIKE MAROT, Related Press
INDIANAPOLIS — Former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez was pepper-sprayed and stabbed a number of occasions throughout a late-night altercation with a 69-year-old truck driver in a downtown Indianapolis alley, which resulted in legal prices towards the Fox Sports activities analyst, in accordance with court docket information filed Sunday.
Primarily based on lodge video footage of the altercation early Saturday and the driving force’s assertion to police, a police affidavit alleges that Sanchez, smelling of alcohol, accosted the driving force of a field truck that backed right into a lodge’s loading docks, resulting in a confrontation exterior the car that prompted the driving force to defensively pull out a knife.
Sanchez was hospitalized with stab wounds to his higher proper torso, the affidavit signed by a police detective stated. Sanchez remained hospitalized early Sunday, in accordance with police. The truck driver, recognized as P.T., had a reduce to his left cheek, it stated.
Sanchez was in steady situation, Fox Sports activities stated Saturday. There was no quick replace Sunday.
His preliminary court docket listening to was set for Tuesday in a Marion County courtroom.
Sanchez stabbed a number of occasions
Because the altercation escalated, the driving force feared “’this guy is trying to kill me’” and pulled his knife as Sanchez got here at him, the affidavit stated. Sanchez was initially stabbed two or thrice, then stabbed once more when he went on the driver once more, it stated.
“The next thing P.T. knew was Mr. Sanchez looked at him with a look of shock, he slowly turned around, and Mr. Sanchez took off northbound in the alley,” the doc stated.
Sanchez was in Indianapolis to name Sunday’s Raiders-Colts recreation. As a substitute, he was charged with battery leading to harm, unauthorized entry of a motorized vehicle and public intoxication — all misdemeanors. Police received a warrant to acquire Sanchez’s cellphone and garments from the hospital, the doc stated.
There have been no quick court docket information indicating whether or not Sanchez had authorized illustration but.
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears stated Sunday that his workplace 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 stated in an announcement.
Fox Sports activities announcers acknowledge Sanchez’s absence Sunday
Sanchez informed police on the hospital that every one he may bear in mind was grabbing for a window, the court docket doc stated. Sanchez stated he didn’t know who else was concerned or the place the altercation occurred.
“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 stated Sunday on Fox’s major NFL pregame present. “At this time our thoughts and prayers are with Mark and his family and all of those involved.”
Fox Sports activities play-by-play announcer Chris Myers additionally acknowledged Sanchez’s absence on Sunday earlier than introducing Sanchez’s substitute, Brady Quinn. Myers stated he wished to ship ideas and prayers to Sanchez and everybody concerned within the incident.
Cops discovered Sanchez with the stab wounds once they have been dispatched to a downtown pub about 12:35 a.m. Saturday. The truck driver was discovered within the alley.
Particulars of the confrontation have been disclosed within the affidavit, based mostly on video footage and the truck driver’s assertion to police.
The video confirmed a person believed to be Sanchez working within the alley towards the truck, the affidavit stated. The motive force works for a corporation that makes a speciality of industrial cooking oil recycling and disposal, and he was carried out his work duties, it stated.
Sanchez opened the truck door and started speaking to the driving force, the affidavit stated. Sanchez informed the driving force he couldn’t be on the loading dock and that Sanchez had spoken to the lodge supervisor, the doc stated. Sanchez smelled of alcohol and his speech was slurred, the driving force informed police.
Affidavit says Sanchez threw truck driver to floor
Sanchez adopted the driving force backward and forward of the truck, the court docket doc stated. When the driving force darted towards the driving force’s door, video confirmed Sanchez “grabbing and throwing” the driving force towards a lodge wall, it stated. The struggle continued towards a dumpster and Sanchez threw the driving force to the bottom, it stated.
Sanchez climbed into the truck however received out when informed by the driving force he wasn’t allowed in, it stated. Sanchez repeated that he spoke to a supervisor and didn’t need the driving force to switch fryer oil, the doc stated. Sanchez tried once more to get into the truck and blocked the driving force from calling his supervisor, it stated.
Believing he was in peril, the driving force grabbed pepper spray from his pocket and sprayed Sanchez’s face, it stated. Sanchez wiped his face and superior towards the driving force once more, it stated.
The motive force then pulled his knife and stabbed Sanchez because the ex-quarterback got here at him, it stated. The motive force fell onto pallets on the bottom, he informed 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 stated.
The motive force made it to his ft and stabbed Sanchez the final time as Sanchez got here at him, it stated.
Sanchez had a 10-year NFL profession earlier than retiring in 2019. He appeared on ABC and ESPN for 2 years earlier than becoming a member of Fox Sports activities as a recreation analyst in 2021. The Lengthy Seaside, California, native starred at Southern California earlier than he was chosen by the New York Jets with the fifth decide within the 2009 NFL draft. Sanchez additionally appeared in video games with Philadelphia, Dallas and Washington.
Sanchez is married to actor Perry Mattfeld, a former USC cheerleader whose credit embody “Shameless,” “In the Dark” and “Chad Powers.” She informed Glamour just lately that the couple had twin daughters in March.
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Schreiner reported from Shelbyville, Kentucky.
Initially Printed: October 6, 2025 at 5:20 AM PDT
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