New details have emerged about Saturday’s arrest at a campaign stop for Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton, and they paint a strikingly different picture from the one her campaign initially presented. What was first described as an armed man lunging at the candidate has been walked back by law enforcement, who say the incident was far less dramatic — and that Acton herself was never threatened or touched.
The suspect, identified as Patrick Havas of Ohio, was arrested after an incident inside a tent at the Canfield Fair near Youngstown, where Acton was holding a campaign event. According to the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, Havas pushed his way through a crowd to get a better view up front. In the process, he knocked over two elderly attendees.
Havas has been charged with two counts of assault in connection with those injuries, plus one count of disorderly conduct. He was released without bail, according to reports.
Campaign’s initial statement called ‘completely misleading’
Amy Acton’s campaign initially posted a statement on social media claiming that "an armed individual lunged at Dr. Acton, injuring multiple people." The statement went on to thank law enforcement for their "swift and decisive action" and said Acton and her husband Eric were "praying for the recovery of those injured."
But law enforcement officials have now clarified that there was no assassination attempt on Acton. The local sheriff reported that Havas aggressively pushed through the crowd to ask questions, and that the charges stem from knocking over two audience members — not from any attempt to reach the candidate.
Acton was never touched, injured, or threatened during the incident, according to police reports cited by "Community News," which called out "Cincinnati News" for what it described as "blatant lies" in their coverage of the event.
Guns in holsters, never drawn
A key detail in the revised account: Havas was indeed carrying two firearms at the time of his arrest. But police say the weapons were in holsters and were never drawn. Officers only discovered the guns after Havas was taken into custody.
Havas holds a valid Ohio permit to carry a concealed weapon, according to the sheriff’s office. Ohio is a permitless carry state, meaning law-abiding citizens can legally carry firearms in public without a license.
"It’s not illegal to carry a gun in public in America," one social media post noted, responding to the initial characterization of Havas as an armed assailant.
The Gateway Pundit, which first reported on the correction, noted that Havas was released by police with no bail — a sign that authorities did not view him as a serious threat.
Political firestorm erupts
The discrepancy between Acton’s campaign statement and the official police account has sparked a political firestorm, with conservatives accusing the Acton campaign of exaggerating the threat for political gain.
Laura Loomer, a conservative activist, weighed in on social media with a post that mocked the incident’s severity relative to the initial alarm. "There’s more chaos at Amy Acton’s house on a weekday when ‘mom’s been drinking’ than there was at her event," Loomer tweeted.
Acton, a former Ohio Department of Health director who gained national prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, is running in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. Her campaign has not yet responded to the updated law enforcement account.
The incident has become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over political violence and how quickly politicians — and the media — are to label events as attacks. The initial statement from Acton’s campaign described "this kind of violence" as having "no place in Ohio," and framed the event as part of a broader pattern of "chaos, hate and vitriol that pits us against one another."
But with authorities now saying there was no assassination attempt and no weapon ever drawn, critics are asking whether the campaign’s language was reckless.
What actually happened — according to police
Here’s the timeline as reconstructed from the sheriff’s office and local reports:
- Havas entered the tent where Acton was speaking. He was carrying two handguns in holsters.
- He pushed through the crowd, allegedly to get a better view. In doing so, two elderly people were knocked over and injured.
- Havas was arrested at the scene. Officers found the guns only after the arrest.
- He was charged with two misdemeanor counts of assault and one count of disorderly conduct.
- He was released without bail, a sign that authorities did not consider him a flight risk or a danger to the public.
No charges related to weapons were filed, and no allegation of attempted assault on Acton has been made by law enforcement.
The incident raises questions about how political campaigns and the media handle reports of violence or threats. In an era of heightened concern about political violence — from the 2022 attack on Paul Pelosi to the 2024 assassination attempt on former President Trump — false alarms can have real consequences, feeding public anxiety and deepening partisan distrust.
Acton’s campaign has not issued a correction or retraction of its initial statement as of this writing. The Gateway Pundit has reached out to the Acton campaign and the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office for comment but has not received a response.
This story is developing. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Source: www.thegatewaypundit.com — https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/09/update-here-is-real-story-about-todays-arrest/