Mark Sanchez walks onto the field before an NFL football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. — AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, File
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**INDIANAPOLIS —** Former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez was pepper-sprayed and stabbed multiple times during a late-night altercation with a 69-year-old truck driver in a downtown Indianapolis alley. The incident resulted in criminal charges against the Fox Sports analyst, according to court records filed Sunday.
Based on hotel video footage of the altercation early Saturday and the driver’s statement to police, a police affidavit alleges that Sanchez, smelling of alcohol, accosted the driver of a box truck that had backed into a hotel’s loading docks. This encounter led to a confrontation outside the vehicle, prompting the driver to defensively pull out a knife.
Sanchez was hospitalized with stab wounds to his upper right torso, the affidavit signed by a police detective said. He remained hospitalized early Sunday, according to police. The truck driver, identified as P.T., sustained a cut to his left cheek, the affidavit stated.
Fox Sports confirmed that Sanchez was in stable condition on Saturday, but no immediate updates were available Sunday. Sanchez’s initial court hearing was scheduled for Tuesday in a Marion County courtroom.
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### Details of the Altercation
As the altercation escalated, the driver feared that “this guy is trying to kill me,” prompting him to pull his knife as Sanchez approached him. Sanchez was stabbed two or three times initially, then stabbed again when he continued advancing toward the driver, the affidavit revealed.
“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 document said.
Sanchez was in Indianapolis to call Sunday’s Raiders-Colts game. However, he was instead charged with misdemeanor battery resulting in injury, unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle, and public intoxication.
Police obtained a warrant to collect Sanchez’s phone and clothing from the hospital for investigation. At the time of the report, there were no court records indicating whether Sanchez had obtained legal representation.
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears commented Sunday that his office would “follow the facts and the law wherever they lead.” He added, “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.”
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### Fox Sports Responds to Incident
At the hospital, Sanchez told police he could only remember grabbing for a window during the incident. He said he did not know who else was involved or where the altercation had occurred, according to the court documents.
Speaking on Fox’s primary NFL pregame show Sunday, Curt Menefee said, “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. 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’s broadcast before introducing Sanchez’s replacement, Brady Quinn. Myers expressed his thoughts and prayers for Sanchez and everyone involved in the incident.
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### Incident Occurrence and Affidavit Details
Police officers found Sanchez with stab wounds when they were dispatched to a downtown pub around 12:35 a.m. Saturday. The truck driver was located in the alley nearby.
According to the affidavit, which is based on video footage and the truck driver’s police statement, a man believed to be Sanchez was seen running in the alley toward the truck. The driver, who works for a commercial cooking oil recycling and disposal company, was performing his work duties at the time.
Sanchez opened the truck door and began talking to the driver, claiming he couldn’t be at the loading dock and that he had spoken with the hotel manager about the situation. The driver told police that Sanchez smelled of alcohol and had slurred speech.
Sanchez reportedly followed the driver around the truck. When the driver moved toward the driver’s door, video showed Sanchez grabbing and throwing the driver against a hotel wall. The fight continued near a dumpster, where Sanchez again threw the driver to the ground.
At one point, Sanchez climbed into the truck but exited after being told he was not allowed in. He insisted he had spoken to the manager and did not want the driver to replace the fryer oil.
Sanchez then attempted to block the driver from calling his manager. Believing he was in danger, the driver retrieved pepper spray from his pocket and sprayed Sanchez’s face.
Despite this, Sanchez wiped his face and advanced toward the driver again. The truck driver then pulled his knife and stabbed Sanchez as the former quarterback approached him.
The driver fell onto pallets on the ground and said, “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 driver got to his feet and stabbed Sanchez a final time as Sanchez advanced.
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### Mark Sanchez’s Career and Personal Life
Sanchez enjoyed a 10-year NFL career before retiring in 2019. He spent two years broadcasting on ABC and ESPN before joining Fox Sports as a game analyst in 2021.
The Long Beach, California native starred at the University of Southern California before being selected by the New York Jets with the fifth pick in the 2009 NFL draft. He also played in games with the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Football Team.
Sanchez is married to actor Perry Mattfeld, a former USC cheerleader known for roles in “Shameless,” “In the Dark,” and “Chad Powers.” The couple welcomed twin daughters in March, according to a recent interview with Glamour.
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