Man Accused of Charging Toward Ohio Governor Candidate Claims He Wanted to Ask Questions

Prosecutor claims man charged toward Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton wanted to ask questions, not threaten her.

September 9, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Canfield, Ohio — A man accused of rushing toward Ohio gubernatorial candidate Dr. Amy Acton during a campaign event at a fair claimed he was attempting to ask her questions, according to a prosecutor’s statement during his arraignment.

38-year-old Patrick Havas, who was arrested after forcing his way through a crowd near Acton, was charged with assault, disorderly conduct, and inducing panic. Authorities said he had two handguns, a taser, and brass knuckles on him but did not brandish or unholster the weapons. No threats were found on his phone during a search.

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Havas pleaded not guilty to the charges, and his bond was set at $5,000. Mahoning County Prosecutor Lynn Maro stated that video footage shows him entering the tent and calling out Acton’s name, though he only managed to say “Dr. Acton, Dr. Acton” before being stopped by security. The incident occurred as Acton spoke under a tent at the Canfield Fair in northeastern Ohio.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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