A man carrying two pistols and brass knuckles shoved his way through a crowd at an Ohio county fair and lunged toward Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton on Sunday, injuring several people before police took him into custody.
Acton was speaking at the Mahoning County Democratic Party tent at the Canfield Fair when 38-year-old Patrick Havas pushed aggressively through the crowd toward her while holding up a cellphone, according to Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene.
Havas was carrying two pistols and brass knuckles, authorities said. The weapons were not drawn during the incident.
As Havas pushed toward Acton, two older people using mobility scooters were knocked over, with at least one falling to the ground, according to the sheriff. Other witnesses said volunteers were also knocked down.
Acton’s security detail, made up of Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers, moved in and stopped Havas before he could reach her. He was then taken into custody.
Acton was not injured. Her campaign confirmed the incident shortly afterward.
“While attending the Canfield Fair, an armed individual lunged at Dr Acton, injuring multiple people,” campaign communications director Addie Bullock said. “Dr Acton and Eric are grateful for the swift and decisive action of law enforcement and are praying for the recovery of those injured.”
“This kind of violence has no place in Ohio,” Bullock added.
Wayne Penny Jr., a Democratic candidate for the Ohio House, described the scene as chaotic.
“He literally bull-rushed through the crowd, knocked our volunteers down, ran through, pushed and knocked the elderly gentleman over with Parkinson’s, and the gentleman hit his head and fell,” Penny told CBS News.
A photograph later circulated showing Acton helping one of the people who was injured.
Havas was arrested and booked into the Mahoning County Jail. Authorities said he faces two counts of assault and one count of disorderly conduct. Local reporting has differed on the exact classification of the assault charges as the case develops.
Authorities have not said that Havas fired or brandished a weapon. Investigators said the guns remained in their holsters during the confrontation.
The incident immediately drew condemnation from both sides of Ohio’s gubernatorial race.
Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, who is running against Acton, called the incident unacceptable.
“Candidates should be able to meet with voters without having to worry about threats or violence,” a Ramaswamy campaign spokesperson said. “What happened today is completely unacceptable and has no place in politics.”
Republican Gov. Mike DeWine also said he and his wife were thankful Acton was not hurt and expressed concern for those who were injured.
“We spoke to Dr. Acton this afternoon, and she said to share with Ohioans that she is okay,” DeWine said.
DeWine added that violence or the threat of violence at political or public events is “always unacceptable.”
Acton, a physician and former director of the Ohio Department of Health, is seeking to replace DeWine, who is barred from seeking another term because of term limits. She is facing Ramaswamy in the November election.
