Armed Man Arrested After Rushing Toward Ohio Dem Gov. Candidate Amy Acton/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ An armed man was arrested after allegedly forcing his way through a crowd toward Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton at the Canfield Fair. Authorities recovered two handguns and brass knuckles but said none of the weapons was removed from its holster or brandished. Patrick Havas faces disorderly conduct and assault charges as investigators examine the incident and his possible motive.
Quick Look
- The incident occurred Sunday at the Canfield Fair in northeastern Ohio.
- Amy Acton was speaking at a campaign event.
- Police identified the arrested man as Patrick Havas, 38.
- Troopers said he pushed through the crowd toward Acton.
- Several attendees were knocked down or injured.
- Authorities recovered two handguns and brass knuckles.
- The Highway Patrol also reported that Havas had a Taser.
- The sheriff’s office said the weapons remained holstered.
- Havas was booked on disorderly conduct and two assault charges.
- Authorities had not publicly identified a motive.
- Republican officials and Acton’s opponent, Vivek Ramaswamy, condemned the incident.
Deep Look
Armed man arrested at Acton campaign event
WASHINGTON — An armed man was arrested after allegedly forcing his way through a crowd toward Democratic Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton during a Sunday campaign appearance at the Canfield Fair.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol identified the man as Patrick Havas, 38. According to the agency, Havas knocked over several audience members while moving toward Acton, Ohio’s former public health director.
Troopers stopped him before he reached the candidate. Several people were injured during the disruption, according to law enforcement.
Authorities say weapons remained holstered
The Highway Patrol said Havas possessed a Taser and two pistols.
The Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office reported recovering two handguns and brass knuckles after the arrest. However, it stressed that “no weapons were ever brandished or even removed from their holsters.”
Authorities did not report that Havas fired a weapon or directly threatened Acton with one.
Acton’s campaign described the incident differently, saying the man “lunged” at her. The precise circumstances and his intentions remain under investigation.
Havas booked on three charges
Havas was taken to the Mahoning County jail and booked on two counts of assault and one count of disorderly conduct, the Highway Patrol said.
Online court records did not immediately contain details of the case, and it was unclear Sunday night whether Havas had retained an attorney.
The allegations have not been adjudicated, and authorities had not announced additional charges or a motive.
DeWine condemns political violence
Republican Gov. Mike DeWine said the man “tried to forcefully push himself” toward Acton while she was speaking.
“Violence or the threat of violence at political or public events is always unacceptable,” DeWine said.
Acton’s campaign communications director, Addie Bullock, said the candidate “will always stand up to the chaos, hate and vitriol that pits us against one another.”
Ramaswamy campaign calls incident unacceptable
Acton is running against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in one of the most closely watched gubernatorial contests of the 2026 midterm elections.
Ramaswamy’s campaign condemned the incident and defended candidates’ ability to interact safely with the public.
“Candidates should be able to meet with voters without having to worry about threats or violence. What happened today is completely unacceptable and has no place in politics, and we hope hope that no one was hurt,” communications director Connie Luck said.
Republican Sen. Jon Husted of Ohio also condemned the incident.
Husted said he and his wife were “disturbed by the attempted attack on Amy Acton today at the Canfield Fair. We are grateful for law enforcement’s quick response. There is no place for this kind of behavior, and it must never be tolerated.”
Ohio race enters final campaign stretch
The incident occurred during the final six weeks of campaigning before November’s election.
Ramaswamy has used his national profile, technology-industry connections and alliance with President Donald Trump to raise substantial campaign funds and finance advertising against Acton.
Acton entered the race after becoming a prominent figure during the COVID-19 pandemic.
DeWine recruited her in 2019 to lead the Ohio Department of Health while she was serving as an associate professor of public health at Ohio State University.
Acton became prominent during the pandemic
Acton appeared alongside DeWine during televised public briefings as coronavirus cases increased in early 2020.
Her public-health leadership brought her state and national recognition, including the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation’s Profile in COVID Courage Award, the Columbus Foundation’s Spirit of Columbus Award and Ohio State’s Alumni Medalist Award.
She also became a target of criticism from Republican state legislators and Ohio residents who opposed pandemic restrictions.
Authorities had not said whether Sunday’s incident was connected to Acton’s previous public-health role or her current political campaign.
Campaign security spending has increased
The episode comes amid heightened concern about threats and violence involving public officials and candidates in the United States.
Prominent incidents over the past decade have included the 2017 shooting at a Republican congressional baseball practice, the 2022 assault on Paul Pelosi and assassination attempts against Trump.
Democratic Minnesota state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed in 2025as was conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Federal political committees reported spending more than $40 million on security-related expenses during the 2023-2024 election cycle, according to an April report from the nonpartisan Public Service Alliance.
The Canfield Fair incident remains under investigation, and law enforcement had not established publicly whether Havas intended to harm Acton.
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