69-Year-Old Victim in Mark Sanchez Stabbing Incident Will Have ‘Permanent Scarring’ on His Body

The man allegedly attacked by former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez will suffer lifelong effects of the incident, according to the Indiana prosecutor handling the case.

Sanchez, 38, allegedly attacked Perry Tole, 69, in the alley between two downtown Indianapolis hotels on Saturday, October 4. Both men were hospitalized, with Sanchez suffering stab wounds and Tole suffering lacerations to his face.

“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,” Marion County prosecutor Ryan Mears said on NBC News Now’s Top Story with Tom Llamas on Monday, October 6. 

Tole’s family released photos showing the extent of his injuries on Sunday, October 5. He could be seen wearing a neck brace in his hospital bed, with a significant gash on his left cheek. 

“Unfortunately, this person sustained very significant injuries as a result of this incident,” Mears said. “That’s why we made the decision to file the charges today because it needed to reflect the seriousness of what took place.”

Sanchez was initially charged with three misdemeanors: battery resulting in injury, public intoxication and unlawful entry of a motor vehicle.

At a press conference earlier in the day on Monday, Mears announced Sanchez is now facing a level 5 felony charge that carries a penalty of one to five years in prison. 

Sanchez pleaded not guilty and waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, October 7, according to court documents obtained by Us Weekly. 

Mears called the shocking altercation between Sanchez and Tole “completely unnecessary.”

“This is one of those situations that didn’t need to occur,” Mears argued on NBC News Now. “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. Under those circumstances, no one should walk away with serious injuries. Yet, that’s what we’re dealing with.”

Sanchez allegedly approached Tole — an employee of a company specializing in commercial cooking oil recycling and disposal — in the downtown Indianapolis alley, telling him his box truck was not allowed to be parked in its location, according to court documents obtained by Us.

A source told Fox59 News that Sanchez had been doing wind sprints in the alley. 

When Tole attempted to grab his phone to call his manager, Sanchez allegedly blocked him from entering his work truck. Sanchez also allegedly entered Tole’s truck without permission and despite multiple alleged requests by Tole for him to leave. 

The altercation turned more violent from there, with Mark allegedly physically assaulting Tole and throwing him toward the hotel wall. 

Tole used pepper spray in self-defense as Sanchez continued to allegedly attack him, with both men eventually sustaining serious injuries. 

“Fortunately, we’ve been able to reach out to him and he’s in good spirits and he’s progressing, but he’s progressing very slowly,” Mears said of Tole’s recovery process. ‘This is one of those events that’s probably going to stay with him the rest of his life.”