Amy Acton
Man with two guns charged after alleged lunge at Ohio candidate Amy Acton, putting campaign security under fresh scrutiny. Myselfsour2724/Wikimedia Commons

A 38-year-old man carrying two handguns, a taser and brass knuckles has been charged with misdemeanour assault and disorderly conduct after allegedly forcing his way into a campaign tent and lunging towards Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton at a county fair, the Mahoning County Sheriff's Office said.

The suspect, named as Patrick Havas of Canfield, entered the tent while filming on his phone before pushing further inside, according to officials. Acton's campaign said in a statement that the man 'lunged at Dr Acton, injuring multiple people' as he moved towards her in front of fairgoers. Two people were reportedly knocked down during the confrontation, consistent with the two counts of assault Havas is facing.

Havas has not been convicted of any offence and is presumed innocent pending the outcome of the case.

Weapons Found on Suspect After Fairground Clash

Officials said Havas was found carrying two handguns, a taser and a set of brass knuckles, though the sheriff's office confirmed none of the weapons were removed from their holsters or brandished during the confrontation. The absence of drawn weapons has become a central detail in official accounts of the incident, distinguishing it from an armed attack.

Havas was detained by fairground security and law enforcement shortly after the confrontation and later booked into Mahoning County Jail.

A person believed to be connected to Havas's household, Andrew Havas, has been described in public records only as a possible relative of Patrick Havas; the exact relationship has not been officially confirmed.

Andrew Havas has a documented political link to the race: Acton has previously criticised the campaign of Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican candidate, for accepting more than $10,000 (£7,300) in donations from him. No evidence has been presented linking that donation, or any wider family history, to Saturday's incident, and officials have not described the confrontation as politically motivated.

Campaign Vows To Press on in Tight Race

In its statement, Acton's campaign thanked fairground staff and law enforcement for their swift response and said the candidate was unharmed. A spokesperson for the campaign, Addie Bullock, said Acton would continue campaigning as scheduled.

The incident comes amid a tightly contested race for the Ohio governorship. A Fox News poll conducted between 6 and 10 August showed Ramaswamy leading Acton by two points, within the survey's margin of error.

Mahoning County authorities said the investigation into Saturday's confrontation remains ongoing and that further charges have not been ruled out. Havas is due to make his first court appearance in the coming days.

Neither the sheriff's office nor the Acton campaign have released additional details on a motive for the confrontation. Officials have not confirmed any political affiliation for Havas, and no outlet has produced a verified, sourced record establishing his voter registration.

Security at Ohio Campaign Events Under Scrutiny

The confrontation has drawn attention to security arrangements at campaign events in Ohio ahead of November's election, with both major campaigns facing scrutiny over how they protect candidates at public appearances. Neither campaign has announced changes to its security protocols following the incident.

Acton, a former Ohio health director, has campaigned heavily on public safety and healthcare policy since launching her bid earlier this year. Her campaign said the fair appearance would be her last public event of the week, with a full schedule resuming on Monday.

The Mahoning County Sheriff's Office said it would provide updates as the case progresses through the courts.

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