A federal prosecutor who was concerned in a number of the early trials of January 6 Capitol rioters has been arrested for allegedly stabbing a driver on a Florida freeway.
Patrick Scruggs, a 39-year-old former federal prosecutor, was driving alongside the I-275 on Tuesday morning when one other automobile collided along with his, in keeping with authorities.
Video captured by a bystander exhibits a person – believed to be Mr Scruggs – getting out of his automobile and showing to shatter the motive force’s window of the opposite automobile.
The suspect then seems to tug out a pocket knife and slash and slice on the driver’s arms.
The unnamed driver, 35, was left with “multiple stabs and cuts in the arm”, in keeping with the arrest report.
Police mentioned that the motive force had skilled a medical episode moments earlier than the crash, which led him to swerve into two vehicles – certainly one of them belonging to Mr Scruggs.
A Good Samaritan – who was behind the wheel of the second automobile that the sufferer hit – informed CNN that he had observed that the motive force was slumped over in his automobile and realised he was in want of significant medical consideration.
Ahmed Gahaf, 40, a Tampa resident, mentioned he stopped his automobile to assist the incapacitated driver.
At that second, he mentioned the motive force wakened and jolted ahead, accelerating his automobile into Mr Gahaf’s automobile first.
He then tried to swerve the automobile however then additionally collided with the second automobile – belonging to Mr Scruggs.
The video, captured by a witness, exhibits Mr Gahaf on the cellphone to 911, attempting to get assist for the motive force, when Mr Scruggs received of his automobile.
Patrick Scruggs in mug shot
(Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office)
Mr Gahaf mentioned he initially thought the suspect was coming to attempt to assist the sufferer within the midst of his medical episode.
When he noticed him allegedly stabbing the motive force, Mr Gahaf mentioned he went over to cease him – and was additionally threatened by the suspect, who wielded his knife at him, virtually slicing his chest.
“I’m thinking he’s coming to help, you know, he’s coming to help, but he comes in like he already has plans,” Mr Gahaf informed CNN on Sunday.
“I came in close to him to try to tell him stop… and he came in close to me, like one foot away from me, from my chest with the knife. And he said ‘You too? You want to kill me?’ I backed from him and was still with 911 and he kept going to stab him (the driver).”
Mr Gahaf and his spouse, who was additionally on the scene, had been unhurt however the driver was taken to hospital for “serious, but non-life threatening injuries”.
“I wanted to help the guy and help the other people, too. It could have been a big accident,” Mr Gahaf informed NBC News.
“It’s four lanes, and everyone is speeding 80mph. There could have been a big accident.”
Suspect was seen approaching the automobile with a pocket knife and slashing on the driver’s arms
(Florida Highway Patrol/CNN)
Mr Gahaf informed CNN he was shocked to be taught that Mr Scruggs was a former federal prosecutor.
“I cannot believe it, you know, that’s what drive(s) me crazy. He knows the law,” he mentioned.
The incident meant the Florida bridge was closed for round three hours.
Mr Scruggs has since been charged with armed housebreaking, aggravated assault and aggravated battery with a lethal weapon, in keeping with an arrest affidavit.
Prior to the street rage incident, the prosecutor had an illustrious profession, working for over a decade as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Department of Justice, earlier than becoming a member of an Altanta-based legislation agency, Barnes & Thornburg in May this yr.
He is greatest recognized for being concerned within the early prosecution of Adam Johnson, often known as the “lectern guy” who ran off with then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s lectern through the January 6 Capitol riots.
Mr Scruggs has now been let go from Barnes & Thornburg, the legislation agency informed CNN.
John Nohlgren, Mr Scruggs’ lawyer, urged the general public to “keep an open mind” over the incident – noting that his shopper has no prior prison historical past.
“This was a chaotic situation involving multiple crashes caused by only one person on one of our area’s busiest bridges. That person was not Mr Scruggs. There is much more to this incident than what is being reported and we are diligently working to bring to light the full facts of what occurred,” he mentioned in an announcement to CNN.
Mr Scruggs was launched from Pinellas County Jail on a $65,000 bond.
