A suspect in the attack on Amy Acton, the Democratic nominee for Ohio governor, has been identified as 38-year-old Patrick M. Havas, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Havas remains in Mahoning County Jail on charges of disorderly conduct and two counts of assault. He was ineligible for bond, records show.
“Havas knocked multiple fairgoers over while trying to get towards Dr. Acton, and was found to be in possession of a taser and two pistols,” the Ohio State Highway Patrol wrote in a statement. “Dr. Acton was unharmed during the incident.”
The attack occurred at the Canfield Fair on Sunday, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol said its troopers intercepted Havas as he “forced his way through a crowd” toward Acton, who is a medical doctor.
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The chair of the Mahoning County Democratic Party, Chris Anderson, said in a statement that Havas was arrested at the party’s tent after knocking volunteers to the ground.
Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican who recruited Acton in 2019 to lead the state’s Department of Health, said he spoke with her after the incident and “she is ok.”
DeWine said the suspect “tried to forcefully push himself” toward Acton inside the booth. He said the attack will be “investigated thoroughly” by law enforcement.
Jail records didn’t list an attorney for Havas.
Acton is set to face Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy — whose campaign called the attack “completely unacceptable” — in the general election in November.
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