NEED TO KNOW
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The fight between Mark Sanchez and a 69-year-old delivery driver was “completely unnecessary,” a Indiana prosecutor says
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Ryan Mears told NBC News that the driver has “permanent scarring” following the fight that happened in downtown Indianapolis on Oct. 4
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Sanchez faces jail time if convicted
The prosecutor who is pursuing a felony charge against Mark Sanchez says the former NFL quarterback’s fight with a delivery truck driver was “completely unnecessary.”
“You have a 38-year-old former professional athlete who is alleged to be involved in a violent confrontation with a 69-year-old man which is literally over a parking spot, and under those circumstances, no one should walk away with serious injuries, yet that’s what we’re dealing with,” Marion County prosecutor Ryan Mears told NBC News on Monday, Oct. 6.
Mears announced earlier on Monday that one of the misdemeanor battery charges against the Fox Sports analyst had been upgraded to a felony, which means Sanchez could face prison time.
The former New York Jets quarterback initially faced three misdemeanor charges — battery with injury, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle and public intoxication — and was arrested at an Indianapolis hospital where he was being treated for stab wounds, hours after an altercation with the man in a downtown alley in the early morning hours of Saturday, Oct. 4.
Mears says the fight, in which the truck driver was seriously injured, was “completely unnecessary.”
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Downtown Indianapolis
“This was one of those situations that didn’t need to occur,” he said.
The injured truck driver, identified as Perry Tole, “sustained very significant injuries,” Mears said.
“This individual is dealing with not only significant pain but also very likely facing the potential of having to deal with permanent scarring on their body,” Mears said. “He’s in good spirits, he’s progressing but progressing very slowly.”
Also on Monday, Tole filed a lawsuit against Sanchez and his employer, Fox Sports, for punitive and compensatory damages, CNN reported. Sanchez was in town to call the Indianapolis Colts-Las Vegas Raiders football game on Oct. 5.
According to court documents, Tole told authorities that Sanchez — who was running wind sprints in the alleyway — climbed into the cab of his truck, smelled of alcohol, and was slurring his speech.
“The good thing about this case is that there is surveillance footage all up and down that alley so we do have a pretty clear picture of what took place,” Mears said. “Certainly you do see Mr. Sanchez running at times before he makes contact with the victim in this case.”
Surveillance video from at least one hotel abutting the alleyway showed Sanchez grabbing Tole and throwing him up against a wall.
In the court documents, the truck driver said that he thought the retired pro athlete was “trying to kill him” and that he pepper-sprayed Sanchez, but that the commentator just wiped it away.
Tole then allegedly stabbed Sanchez, telling police he feared for his life.
The prosecutor added that “a central theme” of the case against Sanchez will be the “application of Indiana’s self-defense laws.”
Regarding Tole, Mears added, “This is one of those events that’s probably going to stay with him for the rest of his life.”
Read the original article on People
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