The older gentleman who assaulted former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez with a knife in an alleyway in Indianapolis claims that ‘faith guided his hands’ in his attempt to protect himself.

Perry Tole, age 69, also sustained severe cuts during the violent clash with Sanchez early last Saturday morning. This altercation has led to the Fox NFL analyst facing charges for a Level 5 felony.

As he recovers at home after the shocking confrontation, Tole has now spoken out and told a friend: ‘Faith guided my hands to protect myself.’

In a discussion with Fox 59, Tole’s longtime associate, Greg Keesling, described the truck driver as a ‘mild-mannered man who avoids conflict’.

‘Perry doesn’t fight,’ he revealed. ‘In fact, I think this is probably the first fight that Perry’s ever been in in his entire life. As a matter of fact, he told me that last night. He said, “I’m gonna go on record. I don’t fight.”‘

Keesling claims that Tole put a previous music career on hold to support his wife and sister-in-law, after the latter was shot in the head during a convenience story robbery back in 2011.

‘Perry works in recycling because he needs the money to take care of his wife’s family. He’s that kind of guy who is very connected and committed to helping others,’ the friend added.

The unsavory incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning, after Sanchez, 39, was observed acting ‘erratically’ and running ‘wind sprints’ during a night out ahead of covering the Colts’ NFL game.

It is alleged that Sanchez took issue with Tole parking his truck in a loading dock while he collected cooking oil on his night shift, as it was disrupting his impromptu workout.

Sanchez, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound former quarterback, is said to have then pummeled Tole and slammed him to the ground, before Tole used mace and then stabbed his assailant two to three times in the chest.

The ex-NFL star was then seen stumbling back toward the Loughmiller’s Pub and Eatery, where he was given medical attention and rushed to hospital.

While there, he was detained and charged with a felony battery and three misdemeanor charges, and it has been reported that he could face up to 16 years in prison if found guilty.

Tole’s family, meanwhile, released a shocking series of images of the truck driver in his own hospital bed, with a serious laceration to the side of his face and a neck brace. 

‘He’s beat up pretty bad, I think, both emotionally and physically, he needs some time,’ his friend told Fox 59. 

In a heartbreaking twist of fate, it was also revealed that Tole’s son is scheduled to get married this weekend.

‘He needs to heal. He’s hurt pretty bad,’ Keesling added, revealing: ‘His son is getting married this weekend. 

‘I don’t think he’s going to be able to attend the wedding because of the injuries that he has.’

In his lawsuit, filed on Monday, Tole sued Sanchez for assault/battery as well as the ex-quarterback’s employer, Fox, for negligent hiring, retention and supervision. He is asking for compensatory and punitive damages.

Tole claims in his filing that he has suffered severe permanent disfigurement, loss of function, other physical injuries, emotional distress and other damages as a result of the altercation. 

According to the driver, Fox ‘knew or should have known’ about Sanchez’s ‘unfitness as an employee, propensity for drinking and/or harmful conduct.’