Former Federal Prosecutor Seen Smashing Car Window Before Stabbing Driver Seeks Immunity Citing ‘Stand Your Ground’ Law

Patrick Scruggs (pictured) stabbed 35-year-old Blake Sharp as he was on his way to work after dropping off his kids at school

Patrick Scruggs, a 40-year-old former federal prosecutor in Florida, is seeking to have multiple felony charges dismissed after he was captured on video repeatedly stabbing a driver during a high-traffic incident on the Howard Frankland Bridge in September 2023. Scruggs, once a prominent figure in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Tampa, appeared in court on Friday asking for immunity under Florida’s ‘stand your ground’ law, which permits the use of force, including deadly force, in cases of self-defense or to prevent violent crimes.

The incident involved Blake Sharp, 35, who was on his way to work after dropping off his children at school. According to Sharp, he suffered a medical episode at the wheel, causing him to lose consciousness and accidentally accelerate into Scruggs’ vehicle. Sharp testified, “My first memory is waking up with someone stabbing me. All I could think of was trying to call my wife and tell her I wouldn’t be coming home because some psychopath was stabbing me.”

Picture of Patrick Scruggs repeatedly stabbing a driver in a road rage incident

Video footage shows Scruggs approaching Sharp’s Lexus with a knife, smashing the driver’s side window, and stabbing Sharp multiple times before briefly walking away and returning to stab him again. Witnesses said Scruggs shouted for Sharp to turn off the car and exit the vehicle before attacking. “He’s bleeding! I just stabbed him! He needs an ambulance!” Scruggs reportedly told a 911 dispatcher.

Scruggs’ legal team argues he acted to prevent what he believed to be a dangerous, possibly intoxicated driver from fleeing and endangering others. “(Scruggs) intervened to stop Mr. Sharp’s efforts to flee the scene,” the defense motion stated. “If he had not done so, he and other morning commuters would have been in danger.”

Scruggs has asked a judge to throw out the charges of aggravated battery, aggravated assault, and burglary under Florida's expansive self-defense statute

Sharp, who has a criminal record and is currently serving a two-year sentence for an unrelated battery conviction, disputed the notion that his background justified the violent response. “Just because I’m a felon does not give your client the right to stab me,” he said in court.

Witness Ahmad Gahaf testified that he initially approached Sharp’s stopped vehicle to offer help, saying, “Open the window, I help you,” but Sharp suddenly accelerated, colliding with Gahaf’s car and then veering into Scruggs’ Honda Civic. After the crash, Scruggs emerged with a pocketknife and initiated the stabbing. Gahaf added that Scruggs nearly turned the knife on him when he tried to intervene.

Bystander, Amanda Post, filmed part of the incident from her car - but said she was terrified to be seen in case Scruggs turned on her

Another witness, Amanda Post, recorded the incident from her car but expressed fear for her safety. “I was afraid if he saw me take a video of it, he could break down my window and come after me,” she said.

Scruggs testified that he believed lives were at risk. “I thought he was going to kill someone,” he stated. “I had to stop him.”

Florida’s ‘stand your ground’ law, enacted in 2005, allows individuals to use deadly force without the obligation to retreat if they reasonably believe it’s necessary to prevent death or serious injury. If the judge rules in Scruggs’ favor, he would be immune from prosecution and the case would be dismissed.

Witness Ahmad Gahaf said when he tried to intervene, Scruggs then turned the knife on him

Adding complexity to the case, new court documents reveal that Sharp previously worked as a confidential informant for Pinellas County, assisting law enforcement in drug cases. Defense attorneys are now requesting access to all communications between Sharp and prosecutors to explore whether he received leniency for his cooperation. “I aided them in busting a lot of fentanyl dealers,” Sharp acknowledged in a deposition, though he insisted he was not working for the state during the bridge incident.

Scruggs’ defense team has also filed a Brady motion to obtain any potentially exculpatory evidence, particularly material that could question Sharp’s credibility or motivations.

The judge has not yet ruled on the motion. The outcome will determine whether Scruggs will face trial or walk away from prosecution under Florida's controversial self-defense statute.

Video of Patrick Scruggs repeatedly stabbing a driver in a road rage incidence