A former federal prosecutor who once worked high-profile cases in Tampa is now serving time on the other side of the courtroom. On Monday, he pleaded guilty in connection with a Sept. 26, 2023, stabbing on the Howard Frankland Bridge and was ordered to spend 90 days in the Pinellas County jail under a plea deal approved by the victim. In court, he apologized to the man he stabbed before deputies led him away to start his sentence.
Patrick Scruggs, 41, entered guilty pleas to felony counts and accepted a deal that includes a 90-day county-jail term and additional conditions, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The Times reports that the victim signed off on the agreement and that Scruggs apologized on the record as part of Monday's hearing.
What Happened on the Bridge
Authorities and witnesses say the chaos erupted during the morning rush on Sept. 26, 2023, when a driver was found slumped over in a travel lane on the Howard Frankland Bridge and several motorists pulled over to help, triggering a three-vehicle chain of events. Video and police accounts describe Scruggs breaking a window, pulling a pocketknife and stabbing the incapacitated driver multiple times. The victim suffered serious wounds and was rushed to a hospital, as reported by FOX 13.
Plea Deal and Sentence
Prosecutors said the plea, accepted by the judge, closes out the Pinellas County case with a relatively short county-jail stint plus the conditions laid out in the agreement. The victim's approval was a key piece of the resolution, according to the reporting. Scruggs again apologized in court before being taken into custody to begin serving the 90-day term, the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Legal Context
Scruggs was initially charged with aggravated battery, aggravated assault and burglary. His attorneys tried to invoke Florida's "stand your ground" law, arguing he was justified in using force, but a judge rejected that request after finding the state had shown the force used was not reasonable, according to Law&Crime. The case drew extra attention in the Tampa Bay area because Scruggs had previously served as an assistant U.S. attorney in Tampa and worked on some Jan. 6-related prosecutions, a sharp contrast that outlets highlighted while tracking the case.
