Mark Sanchez has been hit with a Level 5 Felony battery charge following his alleged role in an altercation with a 69-year-old man.
According to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, Sanchez could face one to six years in prison after he purportedly attacked the man, which resulted in both of them being injured. Sanchez was later arrested at the hospital.
"I don't care who you are, 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,” Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Chris Bailey said in a statement, per the outlet.
On Sunday (Oct. 5), Sanchez—a former NFL quarterback and current Fox Sports analyst—was initially charged with three misdemeanors for his alleged role in the altercation: battery resulting in injury, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle, and public intoxication.
Hotel surveillance footage from the weekend appeared to show Sanchez approaching the man’s truck and talking to him before the situation escalated. According to court documents obtained by Complex, when Sanchez wouldn’t leave, he was pepper sprayed by the driver, who later told police that Sanchez seemed to be intoxicated.
The incident resulted in the driver stabbing Sanchez several times in self-defense, and the driver also suffered cuts to the face.
Sanchez claimed that he approached the driver after a hotel manager told him the driver’s truck wasn’t supposed to be parked where it was. At the time, the 69-year-old man was working between the Westin Hotel and the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, collecting used cooking oil.
Sanchez told police he didn’t remember the confrontation, only that he recalled “grabbing for a window.” The 38-year-old posted a $300 cash bond on Sunday and is slated to appear in court on Tuesday.
