Police in Indianapolis have arrested Fox Sports commentator Mark Sanchez following a bar fight in that city early Saturday morning.
The incident took place around 12:30 a.m., according to a police spokesperson. Many details are still unknown, but police confirmed Sanchez, 38, was stabbed by a person during the altercation.
Sanchez was taken to a local hospital in serious condition. His status was upgraded to stable by Saturday afternoon, and police said he now faces criminal charges that range from attempting to enter a motor vehicle while intoxicated to battery with injury.
The arrest is largely procedural, as Sanchez remains in the hospital. It isn’t clear when he will be released from the hospital or arraigned on criminal charges.
According to local Fox affiliate WXIN (Channel 59), the person who stabbed Sanchez is a local food delivery driver who drew the Fox Sports commentator’s ire after parking in an alleyway. When Sanchez told the food delivery driver to move, he became agitated. The driver tried to use pepper spray to subdue Sanchez, then stabbed him, the outlet reported.
The name of the food delivery driver has not been released. Sanchez did not cooperate with police at the scene of the incident, WXIN reported, citing unnamed sources.
In a statement released after the stabbing, but before Sanchez’s arrest, a spokesperson for Fox Sports said they were grateful to first responders for their quick care.
“Mark Sanchez was injured in Indianapolis on Saturday and is currently recovering in the hospital in stable condition,” the Fox Sports spokesperson said. “We are deeply grateful to the medical team for their exceptional care and support. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mark, and we ask that everyone please respect his and his family’s privacy during this time.”
Sanchez was in Indianapolis to cover a football game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Las Vegas Raiders. Fox Sports confirmed Sanchez will no longer appear on that telecast; it isn’t clear who will replace him.
Sanchez played in the NFL as a quarterback for 10 seasons. He is best known for his time with the New York Jets, during which he became notoriously infamous for a play called the “butt fumble” that occurred during a Thanksgiving Day game. The Jets lost that game to the New England Patriots by 30 points.
