CANFIELD, Ohio (WOIO) - Patrick Havas, a 38-year-old man from Canfield, was arrested on Sunday at the Canfield Fair after lunging at Ohio gubernatorial candidate Dr. Amy Acton and injuring multiple individuals, according to campaign officials and sheriff’s deputies. Havas has been booked into the Mahoning County Jail on two counts of assault and one count of disorderly conduct.
According to Gerry Ricciutti, a spokesperson for the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, Havas entered a tent for the Mahoning County Democrat Party (MCDP) around 2:30 p.m. and began recording Acton on his cellphone. As Acton addressed the crowd, Havas pushed through, causing two people to fall to the ground.
Dr. Acton’s security detail, which included Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers, confronted Havas, leading to his arrest by Canfield police officers. Authorities recovered two firearms and a set of brass knuckles from Havas, although he did not use these weapons during the incident. The highway patrol will conduct the investigation.
Voting records indicate that Havas is a registered Republican with a criminal history that includes three theft charges and traffic offenses. The chair of the Mahoning County Democratic Party condemned the incident, stating, "The Mahoning County Democratic Party (MCDP) abhors political violence in all forms. What happened at our tent today during today’s visit from Dr. Acton is reprehensible and should be condemned by leaders on all sides of the aisle."
The Ohio gubernatorial race is considered one of the most prominent races this year, with the general election scheduled for November. Dr. Acton previously served as the director of the Ohio Department of Health, appointed by Republican Governor Mike DeWine in 2019. She gained recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic for her public health leadership.
Addie Bullock, communications director for Dr. Acton’s campaign, expressed gratitude for law enforcement's quick response and stated, "This kind of violence has no place in Ohio. Dr. Acton will always stand up to the chaos, hate and vitriol that pits us against one another."
Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who is running against Acton, described the incident as unacceptable, emphasizing that candidates should be able to engage with voters without fear of violence. Ramaswamy's communications director, Connie Luck, reiterated this sentiment in a statement.
Ohio Republican Senator John Husted and Attorney General Andy Wilson also condemned the attempted attack, highlighting the need to prevent political violence. Wilson stated, "The attempted violence directed at Dr. Acton is unacceptable — political violence of any kind has no place in Ohio or our nation."
The incident reflects a broader trend of increasing political violence in the United States over the past decade. A report from the Public Service Alliance indicated that federal political committees spent over $40 million on security-related expenses during the 2023-24 campaign cycle, the most recent data available.
___ Associated Press writers Ryan J. Foley in Iowa City, Iowa, and Kantele Franko contributed to this report.