Former Federal Prosecutor Arrested for Stabbing Driver in Florida Highway Confrontation
A former federal prosecutor involved in the early prosecution of a January 6 defendant was arrested for the stabbing of a driver on a Florida highway after a crash last week, according to authorities. The incident took place on September 26 when Tampa resident Ahmed Gahaf stopped to help an incapacitated driver on I-275 southbound. When the driver woke up, he hit Gahaf’s car and collided with another vehicle. Patrick Scruggs, a 39-year-old former federal prosecutor, was inside the second car that was hit. Gahaf explained that Scruggs stopped, got out of his car, and approached the vehicle that hit him. Scruggs then shattered the driver’s side window and attacked the driver with a folding knife, causing multiple stabs and cuts to the driver’s arm.
A video taken by a witness shows Gahaf on the phone with a 911 operator, trying to stop Scruggs. In the video, Scruggs can be seen making a swipe at Gahaf with his knife, narrowly missing him. Gahaf said he was shocked to learn that the man he confronted was a former federal prosecutor, stating, I cannot believe it… He knows the law.
Scruggs is now facing felony charges of armed burglary, aggravated assault, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. His attorney, John Nohlgren, emphasized his client’s career as a federal prosecutor and requested the public to keep an open mind, stating that there is much more to the incident than what has been reported.
This incident has attracted attention due to Scruggs’ involvement in the early prosecution of January 6 defendant Adam Johnson, known as lectern guy, who was caught on camera carrying Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s lectern during the Capitol riot. Scruggs spent a decade at the Middle District of Florida’s US attorney’s office in Tampa and recently joined a private law firm in Atlanta. However, his former law firm confirmed that he is no longer employed there.
The circumstances surrounding the altercation on the Florida highway remain under investigation. The arrest of a former federal prosecutor for such a violent act has raised concerns and questions about the events leading up to the incident and the possible motive behind Scruggs’ actions. As the case unfolds, authorities will continue to gather evidence and conduct a thorough investigation to determine the appropriate legal actions that should be taken.
