Former NFL quarterback and current Fox Sports commentator Mark Sanchez was released from an Indianapolis hospital on Sunday and immediately booked on a felony charge stemming from an altercation with a 69-year-old truck driver last week, according to police.
Sanchez, 38, was booked into the Marion County Jail on Sunday on one count of felony assault and three misdemeanors, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
The police department said that while it would normally wait until Monday to release a booking photo for Sanchez, it would do so on Sunday “due to the high level of public interest.”
Booking photo of Mark Sanchez released by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department
Sanchez has since been released, according to the police department.
On Friday, a judge granted a request filed by Sánchez’s lawyers allowing him to travel. Sánchez lives in California.
Sanchez was arrested after getting into an altercation with a truck driver in Indianapolis early on the morning of October 4. Sanchez was in Indianapolis with his Fox Sports team to broadcast a game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Sanchez allegedly approached truck driver Perry Tole, 69, who was doing his assigned job at a hotel loading dock, and “escalated a dispute over the victim’s parking” there, according to police and prosecutors.
Mark Sanchez walks on the field before an NFL football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Jacksonville Jaguars, on December 5, 2021, in Inglewood, California.
Kyusung Gong/AP
Sanchez allegedly got into the truck and stopped Tole from calling for help before a fight broke out between the two, according to court records.
The victim said he also used pepper spray in an attempt to defend himself from Sanchez and that he felt “in physical danger,” according to court documents.
Police alleged Tole was the victim of a “violent” and “unprovoked” attack by Sanchez and tried to defend himself by stabbing the former NFL player, Erik May, Tole’s attorney, told ABC News.
The incident took place around 12:30 am. As Sanchez allegedly advanced toward Tolé, the victim said he thought “this guy is trying to kill me” and pulled out a knife, according to court documents.
New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez warms up before an NFL football game between the Jets and the Tennessee Titans on December 17, 2012, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Wade Payne/AP
Sánchez suffered several stab wounds, while Tolé “suffered a severe laceration to the side of his face, which went through his entire left cheek,” according to court documents.
Tole said that during the attack, he “flew back into the dumpster and landed on the pallets on the ground,” according to court documents. He said he “was not aware of what Mr. Sanchez was doing to him physically, whether punching him or otherwise,” according to the court document.
The victim said he could only see Sanchez’s feet “coming toward him,” and once the victim stood up, he stabbed Sanchez again, documents state.
Sánchez suffered several stab wounds to the torso, according to court documents.
Tolé also filed a civil lawsuit against Sánchez and Fox.
In a statement released last week, Sanchez’s brother said: “This has been a deeply distressing time for everyone involved. Mark and our family are incredibly grateful for the concern, love and support we have received over the past few days.”
He added that Sánchez is “focused on his recovery while the legal process continues.”
