INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez was pepper sprayed and stabbed multiple times Late night quarrel Court records filed Sunday show the 69-year-old truck driver was found in downtown Indianapolis alleyways, causing criminal charges against Fox Sports analysts.
The police affidavit claims that based on hotel video footage of the altercation early on Saturday and a driver’s seat statement to police, Sanchez, who smelled alcohol, tolerated the driver’s box truck driver returning to the hotel’s loading dock, leading to a conflict outside the vehicle, urging the driver to protect the knife.
Sanchez was hospitalized with a stab wound in the upper right torso, the affidavit signed by police detectives said. Police said Sanchez remained hospitalized early Sunday. The driver of the truck, identified as a PT, said he had been amputated on his left cheek.
Sanchez was in a stable state. Fox Sports I said it on Saturday. There were no immediate updates on Sundays.
His first court hearing took place Tuesday in Marion County courtroom.
Sanchez stabbed multiple times
As the argument escalated, the driver feared “‘This guy is trying to kill me'” and pulled the knife because Sanchez came to him, the affidavit said. Sanchez said he was initially stabbed a couple of times before being stabbed again when he went to the driver again.
“The next thing PT knew was that Sanchez saw him with a shocking expression, and he slowly turned around and Sanchez took off north in the alley,” the document said.
Sanchez was in Indianapolis and called out for the Raiders Colt Game on Sunday. Instead, he was charged with battery, causing injuries, unauthorized break-in with a car, public addiction, and all misdemeanors. Police have obtained a warrant to obtain Sanchez’s phone and clothing from the hospital, documents said.
There were no immediate court records indicating whether Sanchez still had legal representatives.
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said Sunday that his office will “follow where they lead and the law.”
“What began as a disagreement between a 38-year-old former professional athlete and a 69-year-old man shouldn’t have escalated to violence or seriously injured,” Mears said in a statement.
Fox Sports announcer has confirmed Sundays when Sanchez is away
Sanchez told hospital police that all he remembers was grabbing the window, court documents said. Sanchez said he doesn’t know who else was involved or where the argument took place.
“On Friday night in Indianapolis, one of our team members, Mark Sanchez, we were honestly involved in an incident that was still trying to wrap our heads around,” Kurt Menefy said Sunday at Fox’s major NFL pre-game show. “At this point, our thoughts and prayers are with Mark, his family and all involved.”
Fox Sports Play-by-Play announcer Chris Myers confirmed Sanchez’s absence on Sunday before introducing Sanchez’s alternative, Brady Quinn. Myers said he wanted to send thoughts and prayers to Sanchez and everyone involved in the incident.
Officers found Sanchez with a stab wound when he was dispatched to a downtown pub around 12:35am on Saturday. The truck driver was found in an alley.
Details of the conflict were revealed in an affidavit, based on video footage and the truck driver’s statement to police.
The video showed that he believed Sanchez was believed to be running towards the truck in an alleyway, the affidavit said. The driver works for a company specializing in recycling and disposal of commercially available cooking oils, and he said he was fulfilled his job duties.
Sanchez opened the truck door and began talking to the driver, the affidavit said. Sanchez told the driver he was unable to stay at the loading dock and that Sanchez had told the hotel manager, the documents said. Sanchez smelled alcohol and his speech was unclear, driver told police.
The affidavit says Sanchez threw the truck driver to the ground
Sanchez followed the driver from side to side of the truck, court documents said. When the driver darted towards the driver’s door, the video said Sanchez showed the driver “grab and throw” towards the hotel wall. The fight with the dumpster continued, and Sanchez said he threw the driver to the ground.
Sanchez climbed the truck but said he came out when he was told by a driver who was not allowed. Sanchez repeated that he spoke to the manager and did not want the driver to change the fryer oil, the documents said. Sanchez said he tried to get into the truck again and prevented the driver from calling his manager.
Believing he was in danger, the driver said he grabbed a spray of pepper from his pocket and sprayed Sanchez’s face. Sanchez wiped his face and said he went back towards the driver again.
The driver then pulled the knife and stabbed Sanchez as the former quarter came to him, it said. The driver fell on a pallet on the ground, he told police.
“While PT was on the ground, he could see Mr. Sanchez’s feet coming to him, making PT realize he was in a life and death situation,” the affidavit said.
The driver made it on his leg and when Sanchez came to him he stabbed him, it said.
Sanchez had a 10-year NFL career before retiring in 2019. He appeared on ABC and ESPN before joining Fox Sports as a gaming analyst in 2021. Sanchez also appeared in games against Philadelphia, Dallas and Washington.
Sanchez is married to actor Perry Mattfeld. Perry Mattfeld will have credits including “Shameless,” “Darkness,” and “Chad Powers.” She said Glamour Recently, the couple had twin daughters in March.
___
Schleiner reported from Shelbyville, Kentucky.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
