Police ID man who allegedly lunged at Ohio Dem governor candidate, say he was armed with two pistols

The alleged attacker was allegedy armed with two pistols and a taser and has been booked on charges of disorderly conduct and two counts of assault.

Published: September 6, 2026 6:51pm

Updated: September 7, 2026 4:44pm

Police in Ohio have identified the man who allegedly lunged at Democratic gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton Sunday at a state fair rally.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol have identified the suspect as Patrick Havas and say he forced his way through a crowd at the fair, knocking over multiple attendees as he moved toward Acton, the state’s former public health director. 

He was allegedly armed with two pistols and a taser and has been booked on charges of disorderly conduct and two counts of assault, according to the Associated Press. However, as of Monday evening, he has not been formally charged.

"This kind of violence has no place in Ohio," the Acton campaign said in a statement.

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