Federal prosecutor caught on camera stabbing driver in frenzy lodges bizarre defence

An ex-federal prosecutor who hopped out of his and a fellow driver during rush-hour, has issued a bizarre defence claim. Patrick Scruggs, 40, was captured as he repeatedly knifed motorist Blake Sharp, 35, on Howard Frankland Bridge, Florida, .

Despite admitting he carried out the crazed attack, Scruggs believes his case should be dropped due to the "stand your ground" defence. Scruggs, who worked for the Attorney's Office, appeared in court on Friday and requested for his multiple charges of aggravated battery, assault and burglary to be dismissed.

He believes he was protecting other road users after Sharp accidentally accelerated into his in September 2023. Scruggs' legal team are claiming that he thought Sharp was a drunk driver.

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However, Sharp said he suffered a medical episode at the wheel on the way back from dropping his kids to school. He passed out behind the wheel which caused him to when he came around, .

"My first memory is waking up with someone me," he said. "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."

Shocking footage shows Scruggs smash the driver's side window with a pocket knife before repeatedly Sharp. He briefly backed away from the car but then came back to stab him again. He then threatened a bystander with the knife during the incident.

Another bystander, Amanda Post, filmed part of the incident from her car, but said she was terrified to be seen.

"I was afraid if he saw me take a video of it, he could break down my window and come after me", she said.

According to court documents, Scruggs spoke to a 911 dispatcher and said: "He's bleeding! I just stabbed him! He needs an ambulance."

Scruggs' legal team are arguing the stand your ground defence. Under the law, it states that an individual can use force in times of self-defence or to defend against violent crimes.

In place since 2005, individuals are not required to retreat before using deadly force if they believe it is necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm.

His team filed a motion which argued that the motorist could have been intoxicated. "(Scruggs) intervened to stop Mr. Sharp's efforts to flee the scene," it said. "If he had not done so, he and other morning commuters would have been in danger."

If the judge agrees that Scruggs was trying to protect the public, he could become immune from prosecution and charges will be dropped. However, if the judge disagrees, then he will stand trial later this year.