A 69-year-old truck driver has filed a civil lawsuit against Mark Sanchez and the Fox Corporation in Indiana state court, alleging the former NFL quarterback, now a Fox Sports analyst, assaulted him during a downtown Indianapolis altercation last weekend.
Prosecutors upgraded the charges in Sanchez’s criminal case earlier Monday, adding a felony count of battery resulting in serious bodily injury to three prior misdemeanors.
The plaintiff, identified in filings as Perry Tole, accuses Sanchez of assault and battery and asserts Fox is liable for negligent hiring, retention and supervision. The complaint says Fox “knew or should have known about Defendant, Sanchez’s unfitness as an employee, propensity for drinking and/or harmful conduct,” and seeks compensatory and punitive damages, legal fees and other relief.
According to the suit and police affidavits, the confrontation unfolded around 12:30 a.m. Saturday in an alley between the Westin and Marriott hotels. Tole was parked to service restaurant grease collection when Sanchez, described as appearing intoxicated, approached, told Tole he could not be there, attempted to enter the vehicle and prevented him from using his phone.
The filing says the exchange escalated physically with Tole using pepper spray, but the struggle continued. Responding officers found Tole bleeding from the head and face, including a deep laceration through his left cheek, documented in hospital photographs.
Sanchez was stabbed during the incident and transported to nearby Eskenazi Hospital, where he was placed under arrest on misdemeanor charges of battery with injury, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle and public intoxication. Prosecutor Ryan Mears later added the Level 5 felony, which carries a potential one- to six-year sentence upon conviction.
Investigators cited multiple surveillance angles from the area and civilian witnesses with the truck driver telling police he stabbed Sanchez in self-defense.
Sanchez intends to plead not guilty, according to court records. He is represented by Indianapolis attorney James Voyles, with a pretrial hearing set for Nov. 4.
Fox did not issue a statement regarding Sanchez’s status. On Sunday’s pregame show, host Curt Menefee said the network was “still trying to wrap our heads around” the incident. Sanchez had been in Indianapolis for the Raiders-Colts broadcast assignment.
