Former Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez had no words for the elderly truck driver he’s accused of permanently disfiguring in a drunken beatdown when approached by reporters as he left jail Sunday.
Sanchez, 38, broke his week-long silence when a crew with Fox 59 questioned him as he left the Marion County Jail, where he had been booked and processed on a felony battery charge. He hobbled out, seemingly close to tears with one arm still in a sling.
Former Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez speaks to the media Sunday after he’s released from jail. News NationWhen a reporter asked if the ex-football star had any words for Perry Tole, the 69-year-old grease truck driver he allegedly left bloodied and bruised before the driver stabbed him in self-defense, he brushed past the question.
Sanchez pivoted and assured that he would answer more questions in the future but that “today is not that day.”
“I’m just focused on my recovery and I just want to thank the first responders, Eskenazi Hospital, Marion County Sheriff, and the Indianapolis Police Department, metro PD, But I’m focused on my recovery, and I just want to see my wife, I want to see my son, my two baby girls,” he told the outlet.
Sanchez is accused of attacking 69-year-old truck driver Perry Tole (pictured). FOX59“I’m recovering slowly,” Sanchez added.
The Fox Sports analyst is accused of brutally beating Tole while in a drunken stupor just after midnight on Oct. 4 in downtown Indianapolis.
Tole had reportedly parked his grease truck in an alley while he was collecting cooking oil from a nearby hotel when Sanchez suddenly shoved him against the wall.
Sanchez is seen with a sling on his right arm during the interview Sunday. News NationShortly before Tole arrived, Sanchez was seen behaving “erratically” and doing “wind sprints” up and down the alley, which was near a pub, sources told local outlets.
During the tussle, Tole unloaded a round of pepper spray, but Sanchez was allegedly unperturbed and continued to bash him. Tole, reportedly fearing for his life, stabbed the ex-Jets player in the chest, which finally made Sanchez retreat.
Sanchez was booked and his mugshot taken on Sunday. IMPDThe retired athlete was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition less than an hour later. Tole was also hospitalized with “significant injuries,” including one laceration that sliced through his cheek and hit his tongue.
Once Sanchez was stabilized, he was arrested and charged.
He was discharged from the hospital Sunday and swiftly transferred to the Marion County Jail for processing. He was released shortly after, since he posted his $300 bail last week.
Sanchez is facing a level 5 felony battery resulting in serious bodily injury charge along with three misdemeanor charges, battery resulting in injury, public intoxication, and unlawful entry of a motor vehicle.
Tole, who claims the attack left him “permanently disfigured,” has sued Sanchez for compensatory and punitive damages, including mounting medical costs and legal expenses.
Sanchez is set to appear for a pretrial conference on Nov. 5.



