PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Attorneys for an ex-federal prosecutor accused of stabbing a man after a crash on the Howard Frankland Bridge maintain the charges against him should be thrown out.

Patrick Scruggs, a former assistant United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, was on his way to work on Sept. 26, 2023, when traffic stopped in front of him on the bridge.

A car driven by Blake Sharp had stopped in the middle of a lane on the bridge. Sharp had passed out and another driver was pounding on his window, trying to get him to wake up.

Sharp then tried to drive away and hit Scruggs’ car in the process.

On Friday, Scruggs testified that he wanted to stop the car from driving away.

“He hit my car, and it was really jarring, and the next thing I knew, I could hear, it sounded like crunching metal and plastic. My car was nudging and moving forward,” Scruggs said.

Several people used their cell phones to record video of the events as they unfolded.

Witnesses said Scruggs appeared enraged as he took out a knife, shattered Sharp’s window and then Scruggs proceeded to stab Sharp as he sat inside his car.

Assistant State Attorney Nathan Vonderheide told the court on Monday; Scruggs had no reason to stab Sharp.

“The defendant was not acting as a reasonably prudent person, when he acted on the bridge, and the threat as he perceived and even testified to here on Friday evening was not an imminent threat,” Vonderheide said.

Evidence shows Sharp was not armed and the state emphasized that in court on Monday.

“Did he have a weapon in his hand? No, he didn’t have a weapon in his hand. Did he have a weapon in his car? No, he didn’t have a weapon in his car. He had his tools,” Vonderheide said.

Defense attorneys say Scruggs was in fear for his life when he took out his knife.

“As you see in that body camera video, Mr. Scruggs feels like his life is in danger and he is protecting himself and others,” said Defense Attorney John Nohlgren.

Judge Keith Meyer said he will issue a ruling on the “stand your ground” defense at a later time.

Scruggs faces charges of aggravated battery and assault if the stand your ground defense is not allowed.