The man arrested this morning for Tuesday night’s fatal beating at Academy Apartments on Masonwood Drive is the same man awaiting trial for a murder last February on Joseph Avenue in East Nashville.
Rodney Howard, 23, was free on $150,000 bail and was wearing an electronic monitoring bracelet when he allegedly beat Michael Ardell Scruggs, 47, at the rear of the apartment complex where Howard lived. Scruggs, who was found next to his bicycle, suffered a severe skull fracture and died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center on Wednesday.
The investigation led to interviews with witnesses who identified Howard as having an altercation with Scruggs on Tuesday night. One witness said Scruggs told Howard he did not want to fight. Another witness told of incriminating statements made by Howard as well as seeing what appeared to be blood on his shoes yesterday.
Howard is scheduled to go to trial in June for the February 1, 2008, murder of Delltermaine Faust at 709 Joseph Avenue. Faust was shot to death just after 12 noon after allegedly being chased by Howard.
Howard is now being held in lieu of $1 million bail for the murder of Michael Scruggs. Additional arrests are possible as North Precinct detectives continue their investigation.
Howard declined to be interviewed about the Scruggs case following his arrest this morning.
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