Armed Man Arrested After Charging Democratic Gubernatorial Nominee Amy Acton at Ohio Fair

An armed man was arrested Sunday after forcing his way through a crowd toward Dr. Amy Acton, the Democratic nominee for Ohio governor, authorities said.

Dr. Acton was delivering a speech at the Mahoning County Democratic Party tent at the Canfield Fair in northeastern Ohio when a man pushed through the audience, knocking over two elderly attendees, according to Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene and two witnesses. The man did not draw his weapons, and Dr. Acton was not injured.

Two Ohio State Highway Patrol officers assigned to Dr. Acton’s security detail detained and handcuffed the suspect, according to the campaign and the sheriff’s office.

A search revealed the man was carrying two pistols and a Taser disguised as brass knuckles. Ohio law permits residents to carry concealed firearms without a permit.

The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Patrick Havas of Canfield, was booked into the county jail on one count of disorderly conduct and two counts of misdemeanor assault for the individuals he knocked down. The victims were evaluated for injuries but declined further treatment, Sheriff Greene said.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the incident. Mr. Havas did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A spokesperson for Dr. Acton’s campaign stated that an armed individual “lunged at” the candidate and that “multiple people” were injured. Communications director Addie Bullock said Dr. Acton and her husband, Eric, were grateful for the “decisive action of law enforcement” and were praying for those hurt.

Regarding the suspect’s motive, Sheriff Greene said, “I think it was to ask her a couple of questions. He was just, you know, pretty aggressive about it.” Sheriff Greene has endorsed Dr. Acton’s Republican opponent, Vivek Ramaswamy, in the gubernatorial race.

Former Democratic Congressman John Boccieri, who is running for the Ohio State House, witnessed the altercation. He said that after the man was handcuffed, “he was screaming, ‘Dr. Acton, Dr. Acton.’”

Youngstown City Council member Mike Ray, also a member of the Ohio Democratic Party executive committee, corroborated the account. He said the man began heckling Dr. Acton during her address before knocking two older adults to the ground. “It was surreal, turning and seeing this guy being drug away,” Mr. Ray said.

Republican Governor Mike DeWine issued a statement confirming the man tried to “forcefully push himself toward Dr. Acton,” injuring other attendees. “We spoke to Dr. Acton this afternoon and she said to share with Ohioans that she is ok,” Gov. DeWine posted on X. “Violence or the threat of violence at political or public events is always unacceptable.”

Earlier in the day, Mr. Ramaswamy addressed roughly 200 supporters from the bed of a pickup truck at the fair’s Republican tent. The contest between Dr. Acton and Mr. Ramaswamy is shaping up as one of the nation’s most competitive gubernatorial races.

The Ramaswamy campaign condemned the incident as “completely unacceptable.” Spokeswoman Connie Luck said in a statement Sunday evening, “Candidates should be able to meet with voters without having to worry about threats or violence.”

As evening fell, hundreds of fairgoers continued to enjoy the festivities, though the Democratic Party tent remained a hub of activity. Visitors repeatedly stopped to ask volunteers if the reports circulating on social media and local news were true.

“Now everybody wants Amy signs and Amy buttons,” said Bernadette Pernotto, a volunteer with the Mahoning County Democratic Party. Ms. Pernotto, who was standing feet from Dr. Acton when the suspect entered the tent, described the scene as like “watching bowling pins fall” as the man bowled over the two older people in his path.

The news gave some attendees pause. Annika McCabe, 24, said she texted friends to ask if they still wanted to attend. “It’s just a microcosm of how escalated things have become,” Ms. McCabe said. “But these things are going to keep happening, and we have to keep living our lives.”

At the Republican tent, Mahoning County Republican Party Chairman Tom McCabe called the incident disturbing. “Everyone is shocked that it happened in our hometown,” he said.

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