Mark Sanchez, who was arrested for multiple misdemeanors following a physical altercation this weekend, is now facing a felony charge of battery involving serious bodily injury. Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears announced the upgraded charges on Monday after an amended probable cause affidavit.
“We have added more serious charges against Mr. Sanchez,” Mears said. “At this point in time, we have filed a felony charge, a level 5 felony of battery involving serious bodily injury, which contains a penalty of 1 to 6 years.”
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The 38-year-old Sanchez is a former NFL quarterback who has been working as a television analyst for Fox Sports since 2021. He was in Indianapolis to call Sunday’s game between the Colts and the Las Vegas Raiders. He was hospitalized and in critical condition after being stabbed, a police affidavit said.
What led to the charges against Mark Sanchez?
Unbiased. Straight Facts.TM
Mark Sanchez was the fifth overall pick during the 2009 NFL Draft and was ultimately picked by the New York Jets.
The 69-year-old victim was also hospitalized with serious injuries. Sanchez is accused of attacking the truck driver in an Indianapolis alley after arguing with the man about parking his truck in a hotel loading dock. The man told detectives that Sanchez smelled of alcohol and was slurring his speech and that he accosted him after he parked. He also said that Sanchez had climbed into the cab of the truck.
The driver tried to flag down hotel security, but the confrontation escalated. He then pepper-sprayed Sanchez, but it had little effect. Video footage reviewed by detectives showed Sanchez then grabbing the man and throwing him up against a wall. The man, fearing for his life, reportedly stabbed Sanchez multiple times to stop the attack. Mears said the confrontation didn’t have to happen.
“We are literally talking about people fighting over a parking space,” Mears said. “Or a dispute about where people are parking, and it resulted in someone receiving just incredibly significant injuries, where this incident took place was an area of the city which was very well covered by surveillance footage.”
How did the police put together the evidence?
The surveillance footage helped law enforcement piece together what happened. They are still investigating the incident and said Sanchez could face additional charges.
“This is by no means the end of this investigation,” Mears said. “This by no means means that these are going to be the final charges that we move forward with.”
Indianapolis Police Chief Chris Bailey thanked witnesses for coming forward and also had a warning for others.
“I don’t care who you are,” Bailey said. “I don’t care what you do for a living. I don’t care where you live. If you come into our city, commit violence, we will use all the tools at our disposal to hold you accountable.”
What has Fox Sports said about the incident?
The 6-foot-2, 230-pound Sanchez was a first-round draft pick of the New York Jets in 2009. He retired from the NFL after 8 seasons with the Jets, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders. Fox has made no announcements about Sanchez beyond an initial statement posted to social media Saturday afternoon.
“Mark Sanchez was injured in Indianapolis on Saturday and is currently recovering in the hospital in stable condition,” the statement reads. “We are deeply grateful to the medical team for their exceptional care and support. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mark, and we ask that everyone please respect his and his family’s privacy during this time.”
Fox Sports play-by-play announcer Chris Myers acknowledged Sanchez’s absence on Sunday before introducing Sanchez’s replacement, Brady Quinn.
Sanchez was released on a $300 bond for the initial misdemeanor charges. His attorneys filed a motion to waive a first hearing and entered a not guilty plea on Sanchez’s behalf. The former quarterback’s first appearance in court is scheduled for Nov. 4.
