A 38‑year‑old man was arrested after lunging at Dr. Amy Acton, the Democratic candidate for Ohio governor, during a speech at the Mahoning County Democratic booth on Sunday at the Canfield Fair. The attack occurred while Acton was speaking to the crowd.
Sheriff Jerry Greene identified the attacker as Patrick Havas and reported that he was armed with two pistols and brass knuckles. Greene said Havas aggressively pushed through the crowd toward Acton while holding a cell phone, and that he knocked over two older people on mobility scooters, one of whom fell to the ground. Havas has been charged with two counts of misdemeanor assault and one count of disorderly conduct.
Acton’s campaign communications director, Addie Bullock, confirmed the incident in a statement, saying the armed individual “lunged at Dr. Acton, injuring multiple people.” She praised the swift action of law enforcement and expressed gratitude for the recovery of those injured, adding that such violence has no place in Ohio.
Mike DeWine, the outgoing Republican governor who has endorsed fellow Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, thanked law enforcement for their response and noted that Acton was unharmed. He also sent thoughts to those injured and praised the quick work of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and other officers on the scene.
