A man who lunged toward Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton was carrying two firearms but never drew them.
Patrick Havas, 38, of Canfield, Ohio, approached Acton while she was speaking at the Mahoning County Democratic Party tent at the Canfield Fair on Sunday. Members of her security detail detained and handcuffed him. He is now facing two misdemeanor assault charges and one count of disorderly conduct.
The two people Havas knocked over were assessed for injuries on site and declined further treatment. Acton herself was not injured, according to Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene.
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That account stands in sharp contrast to what Acton’s campaign put out publicly. As originally reported, Acton’s campaign issued a statement saying “an armed individual lunged at Dr. Acton, injuring multiple people,” and called on supporters to pray for the recovery of those injured. The statement also invoked themes of political violence, chaos, and hate.
Sheriff Greene described a more straightforward scene. Havas knocked over two elderly audience members before security intervened. A witness who spoke with the New York Times corroborated that version of events.
Elected Democrats quickly responded with statements of support. Mahoning County Democratic Party chair Chris Anderson called what happened in the tent “reprehensible” and said it “should be condemned by leaders on all sides of the aisle,” framing it as political violence. Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona said he spoke with Acton directly and referenced the 2011 shooting of his wife, former congresswoman Gabby Giffords, while saying there is “no place in our society for political violence.” Democratic Senate candidate Sherrod Brown said he was relieved that Acton and everyone involved were safe.
Republican responses came in as well. Acton’s opponent, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, issued a statement condemning political violence. A number of other Republican lawmakers in Ohio and beyond made similar statements.
Havas faces one assault count for each person he knocked over, plus the disorderly conduct charge. The two assault charges are misdemeanors. Despite being found with two firearms after his detention, he never drew either weapon during the incident.
The divergence between Acton’s campaign statement and the sheriff’s account drew immediate attention. The campaign’s language, including the phrase “injuring multiple people” and calls for victims’ recovery, painted a significantly more alarming picture than what law enforcement described on the record.
