Mahoning County Prosecutor Lynn Maro on Tuesday described video from a suspect’s phone in the case of a man accused of pushing through a crowd toward Democratic Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton at the Canfield Fair. The clip of Maro’s comments was recorded by 21 News (WFMJ). Officials have not released the original recording because it is part of an active investigation.
The Acton campaign has issued statements after both the Sunday incident and Tuesday’s arraignment.
Key facts
• The incident happened Sunday, Sept. 6, around 2:30 p.m. inside the Mahoning County Democratic Party tent at the Canfield Fair while Acton was speaking.
• Patrick Havas, 38, of Canfield, is accused of forcing his way through the crowd while recording on his phone and knocking over two older adults. Acton was not injured.
• Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers assigned to Acton’s security detail detained him.
• Authorities said Havas was carrying two handguns, a Taser, and brass knuckles. They said the weapons were not drawn or brandished.
• Havas pleaded not guilty Tuesday to two counts of assault, one count of disorderly conduct, and one count of inducing panic. All are misdemeanors. Bond was set at $5,000. The judge issued no-contact orders involving Acton and the two people knocked down, required him to surrender firearms, and barred him from speaking to the media.
• Maro said Havas consented to a full search of his phone. Investigators found no threats and no evidence of an “ongoing obsession” with Acton.
• Maro said the phone video shows Havas walking into the tent while recording, moving forward, and calling out “Dr. Acton, Dr. Acton.” A member of the security detail then approached. Maro said the video does not show close contact with Acton.
• Maro said current evidence does not support felony charges. “We’re not going to let emotions take over. We’re going to follow the evidence. We’re going to follow the facts,” she said. She noted that Ohio law did not support additional charges based solely on possession of the weapons, which were not used.
• Maro said the Acton campaign had asked people to stop recording shortly before the incident. At this point, the only video prosecutors have is from Havas’ phone. The Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office has asked the public for any other recordings.
• After the Sunday incident, Acton campaign communications director Addie Bullock said an “armed individual lunged at Dr. Acton, injuring multiple people.” The statement thanked law enforcement and said “this kind of violence has no place in Ohio.”
• After the arraignment, Bullock said Acton and her husband “were grateful to see the rule of law upheld” and expressed continued appreciation to law enforcement.
The investigation remains open. Havas is presumed innocent. Ohio generally allows permitless concealed carry, and the Canfield Fair allows firearms except inside marked buildings. Possession of the items recovered did not, by itself, lead to additional charges, according to the prosecutor.
Acton, Ohio’s former public health director, is the Democratic nominee for governor. The general election is in November.
