Former NFL quarterback and current Fox Sports color commentator Mark Sanchez was discharged 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.
The 38-year-old Sanchez was booked at the Marion County Jail on Sunday on a felony battery charge and three misdemeanor charges, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
The police department said that while it would usually wait until Monday to release a booking photo of Sanchez, it was doing so on Sunday “because of the high level of public interest.”
Booking photo for Mark Sanchez released by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department
Sanchez has since been released from custody, according to the police department.
On Friday, a judge granted a petition filed by Sanchez’s lawyers allowing him to travel. Sanchez lives in California.
Sanchez was arrested after getting into an altercation with a truck driver in Indianapolis early on the morning of Oct. 4. Sanchez was in Indianapolis with his Fox Sports crew to broadcast a game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Sanchez allegedly approached 69-year-old truck driver Perry Tole, 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.
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 allegedly climbed into the truck and kept the Tole from calling for help before a fight between the two broke out, according to court records.
The victim said he also used pepper spray in an attempt to fend off Sanchez and that he felt “in physical danger,” according to court documents.
Police alleged that 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, an attorney for Tole, told ABC News.
The incident took place around 12:30 a.m. As Sanchez allegedly advanced on Tole, 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, Dec. 17, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn.
Wade Payne/AP
Sanchez suffered several stab wounds while Tole “suffered a severe laceration to the side of his face, penetrating all the way through his left cheek,” according to court documents.
Tole said that during the attack, he went “flying back into the dumpster and falling onto the pallets on the ground,” according to court documents. He said that he “was not aware of what Mr. Sanchez was physically doing to him, whether he was punching him or otherwise striking him,” the 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.
Sanchez suffered several stab wounds to his torso, according to court documents.
Tole has also filed a civil suit against Sanchez 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’ve received over the past few days.”
He added that Sanchez is “focused on his recovery as the legal process continues.”
