An armed man was arrested after forcing his way through a crowd and moving toward Democratic Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton during a campaign appearance at the Canfield Fair on Sunday, according to law enforcement officials.
Acton was not injured, but several people in the crowd were hurt as the man pushed through attendees before Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers stopped him.
Authorities identified the suspect as 38-year-old Patrick Havas.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Havas was carrying a Taser and two pistols. The Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office later said two handguns and brass knuckles were recovered following his arrest.
Authorities emphasized that the firearms were not removed from their holsters during the incident.
Several People Injured in the Crowd
Officials said the suspect forced his way through the crowd while moving toward Acton, knocking down multiple people.
Law enforcement officers quickly intervened and took him into custody before he reached the candidate.
Havas was arrested and faces charges including disorderly conduct and assault.
Authorities have not publicly established a motive for the incident.
Amy Acton Was Unharmed
Acton, Ohio’s former health director, was campaigning at the Canfield Fair as part of her bid to become the state’s next governor.
Her campaign confirmed that she was unharmed.
The incident immediately drew condemnation from political leaders across party lines.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine denounced political violence, while Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, Acton’s opponent in the November election, also condemned what happened.
Security Concerns During the 2026 Election
The incident comes as security surrounding political candidates and public officials remains a major concern across the United States.
Campaigns have increasingly spent significant amounts of money on security as threats and incidents involving political figures have drawn national attention in recent years.
Ohio’s gubernatorial election is expected to be one of the closely watched statewide races of the 2026 election cycle.
Acton is running as the Democratic candidate against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy.
Authorities are continuing to investigate Sunday’s incident, including the suspect’s actions and possible motive.
More information could emerge as the investigation continues and the suspect moves through the legal process.