On Tuesday evening, September 26, former federal prosecutor Patrick Scruggs was arrested for allegedly stabbing an incapacitated driver in Tampa, Florida. The victim was taken to the hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. Interestingly, Scruggs is best known for leading the January 6 prosecution of Adam Johnson, the man who allegedly took Nancy Pelosi’s lectern at the Capitol Rotunda.
Scruggs, who is 38 years old, worked as a federal prosecutor from 2013 to 2023 according to his LinkedIn page. In May 2021, he joined the law firm of Barnes & Thornburg as an “of counsel” attorney, bringing with him extensive experience in criminal law litigation and investigations.
According to reports from the Florida Highway Patrol, the 40-year-old driver was traveling south on Interstate 275 when he noticed a vehicle stopped in the travel lanes of the Howard Frankland Bridge around 9:24 am. As he approached the vehicle, he noticed the driver slumped over and stopped to offer assistance. But before he could do so, the driver’s car accelerated and crashed into his own sedan. The car then shifted into reverse, attempting to maneuver around the couple’s vehicle.
Scruggs appeared on the scene at this point, and his car also hit the couple’s sedan. But this was not the end of the incident – Scruggs got out of his car and began stabbing the 35-year-old driver with a pocketknife. He even broke one of the car’s windows in the process. When the couple tried to intervene, Scruggs turned his aggression towards them, causing them to run away in fear for their safety.
In a surprising twist, Adam Johnson, who was prosecuted by Scruggs for his involvement in the January 6 events, commented on the situation. He posted a picture of Scruggs’ mugshot on social media, along with the caption, “Meet the guy who prosecuted me in Tampa for walking into a building on January 6th… What punishment do you think he should receive for repeatedly stabbing a man in public?”
— The Lectern Guy???????? (@lecternleader) September 27, 2023
Scruggs was released on Tuesday night after paying $65,000 bail. He is facing charges that include armed burglary, aggravated assault, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
It is a stark reminder that the tables can quickly turn, and those in positions of power can find themselves on the wrong side of the law. I don’t think anyone could have expected this one, though… CRAZY!!!