Video above: Ex-federal prosecutor named suspect in Howard Frankland Bridge stabbing (2023 report)

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — New court documents may shed light on a 2023 incident involving a former federal prosecutor accused of stabbing a man who crashed into him on the Howard Frankland Bridge.

Attorneys for Patrick Scruggs, 40, are seeking additional evidence related to the driver he stabbed, Blake Sharp, who witnesses found stopped in the middle of the bridge, passed out behind the wheel on Sept. 26, 2023.

Ahmed Gahaf and Itifak Almontaser were passing by and stopped to check on Sharp. After banging on his window, Gahaf returned to his car to retrieve a tool to break the window.

Sharp suddenly awakened and accelerated forward, hitting the back of Gahaf’s vehicle.

“Mr. Sharp did not stop upon striking Mr. Gahaf’s vehicle, but rather continued to accelerate, pushing Mr. Gahaf’s vehicle down roadway while Mr. Gahaf’s wife, Ms. Almontaser, was still inside,” Scruggs’ attorneys wrote.

While trying to get around Gahaf’s vehicle, Sharp struck Scruggs’ car. That’s when Gahaf called 911 to report a possible impaired driver.

The two vehicles became stuck together and came to a stop after hitting Gahaf’s car again.

According to his attorneys, Scruggs got out of his car with a pocketknife, used it to break Sharp’s window, and Sharp tried to drive away. In the ensuing struggle to unlock Sharp’s door from the inside, he “fought back” and was stabbed multiple times by Scruggs, the court document says.

Images of the incident, showing Scruggs wearing shorts and flip-flops and holding a knife in his hand, spread widely on social media. A passing St. Petersburg police officer detained him “within moments.”

According to deposition transcripts, Sharp said he did not recall the crash, stating he “came to” while he was being stabbed. He blamed losing consciousness on diabetes, and his blood sugar levels being “off the charts,” but Scruggs’ attorneys said medical records show Sharp wasn’t treated for high blood sugar after the crash and has not been diagnosed with diabetes.

Scruggs’ attorneys pointed to a suspected history of drug use, indicating that Sharp may have been impaired when the crash happened. Sharp testified that he did not take any intoxicating substances that day.

At the time of the deposition, Sharp was incarcerated in Hernando County on a parole violation.

Scruggs’ attorneys are seeking to obtain all records of communication between Sharp and Carlos Cruz, an investigator for the State Attorney’s Office, with whom he spoke on the phone before the crash. Sharp testified that he talked to Cruz about potentially turning himself in on outstanding warrants.

Scruggs was charged with armed burglary, aggravated battery and aggravated assault. He is due to go on trial next month.