(WXIN) – Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears has filed more serious charges against former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez following a stabbing incident in downtown Indianapolis early Saturday.

Initially charged with several misdemeanors, including battery resulting in injury, public intoxication, and unlawful entry of a motor vehicle, Sanchez was accused of being the aggressor in the altercation. However, after reviewing the extent of the victim’s injuries and considering the victim’s age, Prosecutor Mears announced at a Monday press conference that Sanchez’s charges have been upgraded to a Level 5 felony battery causing serious injury.

“This is by no means the end of this investigation,” Mears emphasized.

The investigation, led by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD), was thorough, incorporating numerous witness statements and surveillance footage from a well-monitored section of downtown Indianapolis.

IMPD Chief Chris Bailey stated during the presser, “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 and commit violence, we will use all the tools at our disposal to hold you accountable.”

### Incident Details

The stabbing occurred around 12:35 a.m. on Saturday near Loughmiller’s Pub and Eatery. Police found Sanchez suffering from multiple stab wounds to his upper torso. Nearby, a 69-year-old man was found with cuts to his face. The victim was working between the Westin Hotel and the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown collecting used cooking oil as part of his job.

Hotel surveillance footage reviewed by investigators shows Sanchez jogging into an alley and approaching the man’s box truck. The two were seen talking before the situation escalated. According to the probable cause affidavit, Sanchez allegedly opened the truck’s driver’s door and climbed inside despite being told to leave.

The victim told detectives Sanchez appeared intoxicated, smelled of alcohol, and falsely claimed to have spoken to the hotel manager about the truck’s presence. When the worker attempted to call his supervisor, Sanchez reportedly blocked him. Video footage shows the men circling the truck before a struggle broke out near a large dumpster.

Detectives say Sanchez threw the victim toward the dumpster, with a fight ensuing between the truck and a nearby wall.

The 69-year-old said he used pepper spray in self-defense. When Sanchez continued to advance, the man believed “this guy is trying to kill me” and stabbed Sanchez several times with a knife. Court documents indicate footage from the nearby Marriott hotel “closely matches” the victim’s account.

### Witness Accounts and Evidence

A witness in a nearby car told police he saw the two men “recording each other” with cellphones before the fight, later seeing one man fall to the curb and the other run north through the alley.

Investigators collected a knife from the truck’s driver’s seat and obtained search warrants for Sanchez’s clothing and cellphone.

The victim’s family shared images of the injuries sustained during the attack, describing deep cuts that went through his cheek and struck his tongue. They prefer to remain anonymous due to the high-profile nature of the case.

### Sanchez’s Condition and Statement

Sanchez remains hospitalized in critical condition. When interviewed by detectives at the hospital, he reportedly stated he only remembered “grabbing for a window” and did not know who attacked him or where the incident occurred.

### Legal Proceedings and Reactions

Prosecutor Mears released a statement early Sunday, saying, “What began as a disagreement between a 38-year-old former professional athlete and a 69-year-old man should not have escalated into violence or left anyone seriously injured. As with any case, we will follow the facts and the law wherever they lead.”

Sanchez’s initial hearing is scheduled for Tuesday at 8:30 a.m., with a $300 cash bond issued. Public records confirm Sanchez has posted bond and was processed at the hospital rather than the Marion County Jail, which may explain the absence of a booking photo.

### Political and Public Response

Following the initial reports implicating Sanchez in the stabbing, Indiana Governor Mike Braun and Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith tweeted criticisms about Indianapolis’s “lack of public safety.” Beckwith claimed the city was “sliding into lawlessness” and called for expanded powers for state leadership to create “safe streets.”

However, after details emerged portraying Sanchez as the aggressor, both Braun and Beckwith deleted their tweets.

Prosecutor Mears responded on Twitter, saying, “The governor attempted to exploit senseless violence for political gain without knowing any facts. The truth didn’t fit his narrative and he deleted his tweet. Real leadership requires a basic understanding of facts and a desire to do more than just blame others.”

### IMPD’s Stand on City Safety

Chief Bailey defended Indianapolis against claims that the city is unsafe. He highlighted statistics showing a 5% decrease in violent crime downtown, an 11% reduction in property crime, and a 10% drop in overall crime. Citywide, violent crime is down 21%.

“Downtown Indianapolis remains a safe and welcoming environment for the people that live here and the people that visit here,” Bailey affirmed. He also praised IMPD officers involved in the investigation, calling their professionalism “what makes this department one of the best in the country.”

### Background on Mark Sanchez

Sanchez, 38, is a former New York Jets quarterback who played at USC from 2005 to 2008. He was selected fifth overall in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Jets. Sanchez was scheduled to broadcast the Colts-Raiders game at Lucas Oil Stadium with FOX Sports on Sunday.

On Monday, his legal team requested to waive his initial hearing and instead set a date for a pretrial conference.

### Community Message

“I continue to urge our community to respect one another,” Chief Bailey said. “As the prosecutor said, this did not need to happen. We need to recognize our differences, respect our differences, and deal with our conflict without resorting to violence. Because it’s just not worth it.”

### Potential Sentencing and Civil Lawsuit

A Level 5 felony in Indiana carries a sentencing range of one to six years.

In addition to criminal charges, WXIN has confirmed that the victim is filing a lawsuit against both Sanchez and his employer, FOX Corporation. The lawsuit includes counts of assault/battery and negligent hiring.

“Fox Corporation knew or should have known about Sanchez’s unfitness as an employee, propensity for drinking and/or harmful conduct,” the filing states.
https://wgntv.com/news/charges-against-former-nfl-qb-mark-sanchez-upgraded-amid-investigation-into-stabbing-incident/