Former NFL quarterback and current Fox Sports color commentator 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, prosecutors in Indianapolis announced.
The more serious charge was added after investigators learned of the severity of the victim’s injuries, Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said at a news conference on Monday.
“This was a situation that did not need to occur,” Mears said.
New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez warms up before an NFL football game between the Jets and the Tennessee Titans, Dec. 17, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn.
Wade Payne/AP
“The allegations involve a 38-year-old man becoming involved in an altercation with a 69-year-old man who sustained significant and very serious injuries” over a dispute about parking, Mears said.
Other charges are possible, Mears said, noting they are still in “the early stages of this investigation.”
Early Saturday morning, Sanchez allegedly approached a 69-year-old truck driver who was doing his assigned work at a hotel loading dock and “escalated a dispute about the victim” parking there, according to police and prosecutors. Sanchez allegedly climbed into the truck and kept the driver from calling for help before a fight broke out, according to court records.
The victim said Sanchez shoved him when he tried to get his phone, and he felt he was “in physical danger,” so he pepper-sprayed Sanchez, according to court documents.
When Sanchez allegedly advanced toward him again, the victim said he thought, “this guy is trying to kill me,” so he pulled out a knife, “and when Mr. Sanchez came at him,” the victim stabbed Sanchez several times, according to court documents.
The victim said he went “flying back into the dumpster and falling onto the pallets on the ground,” and that he “was not aware of what Mr. Sanchez was physically doing to him, whether he was punching him or otherwise striking him,” court document said. The victim said he could only see Sanchez’s feet “coming at him,” and once the victim stood up, he stabbed Sanchez again, the documents said.
Mark Sanchez stands on the sidelines before an NFL football game between the Tennessee Titans and the New York Jets, Dec. 17, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn.
Wade Payne/AP
The victim “suffered a severe laceration to the side of his face, penetrating all the way through his left cheek,” while Sanchez suffered several stab wounds to his torso, according to court documents.
Multiple angles of surveillance footage captured the incident and witnesses have come forward, Mears said.
Sanchez was arrested at the hospital and initially charged with three misdemeanors: battery with injury, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle and public intoxication, police said.
Sanchez has waived an initial court hearing set for Tuesday for the misdemeanor charges. A pretrial conference hearing has been set for Nov. 4 for the updated case.
The sentence for the felony charge could be one to six years, Mears said.
Mark Sanchez walks on the field before an NFL football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Jacksonville Jaguars, Dec. 5, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif.
Kyusung Gong/AP
Sanchez was in Indianapolis as part of the broadcasting crew for Sunday’s game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Indianapolis Colts. He did not end up calling the game.
Indianapolis Police Chief Christopher Bailey said Monday, “I don’t care who you are, I don’t care what you do for a living. … If you come into our city, commit violence, we will use all the tools at our disposal to hold you accountable.”
Sanchez was the No. 5 overall pick by the New York Jets in 2009 after leading USC to a 12-1 record and victory over Penn State in the Rose Bowl. He led the Jets to back-to-back AFC Championship appearances in his first two seasons, but went just 14-17 with 39 touchdowns and 36 interceptions in his next two seasons.
He had brief stops in Philadelphia, Dallas and Washington, but never played in the playoffs again after his first two seasons.
ABC News’ Ahmad Hemingway contributed to this report.
