Patrick Havas is in jail because he was arrested at the Canfield Fair on Sunday, September 6, 2026, after allegedly forcing his way through a crowd toward Ohio Democratic governor candidate Dr. Amy Acton while carrying two handguns, a Taser and brass knuckles. The 38-year-old Canfield man is being held at the Mahoning County Jail on two assault charges and one count of disorderly conduct, and searches for “Amy Acton attack” and “Patrick Havas” are surging across the US as the story dominates political news. Last updated: September 7, 2026.
Who Is Patrick Havas?
Patrick Havas is a 38-year-old resident of Canfield, Ohio, a suburb of Youngstown in Mahoning County. According to public records cited by local and national outlets, he is a licensed nurse and a registered Republican. Until this weekend he had almost no public profile.
Court records reviewed by The Vindicator show his only prior conviction in Mahoning County was a 2008 disorderly conduct case. He had originally been arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and petty theft after allegedly stealing three DVDs from a Canfield grocery store; the theft charge was later dismissed.
What Happened at the Canfield Fair?
At around 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 6, 2026, Dr. Amy Acton, Ohio’s former state health director and the Democratic nominee for governor, was speaking to supporters inside the Mahoning County Democratic Party tent at the Canfield Fair. According to the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, Havas entered the tent recording on his cellphone and began pushing his way through the crowd toward the front.
Acton’s security detail, made up of Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers, confronted him. In the scuffle, at least two people were knocked to the ground. Wayne Penny Jr., a Democratic candidate for the Ohio House, told CBS News that an elderly man with Parkinson’s disease was pushed over and hit his head. Havas was quickly taken into custody by Canfield Fair police.
After the arrest, officers recovered two handguns, a set of brass knuckles and a Taser. The sheriff’s office stressed that “no weapons were ever brandished or even removed from their holsters.” Acton was not hurt and stayed on site to help treat one of the injured people.
What Is Patrick Havas Charged With?
Havas was booked into the Mahoning County Jail on two counts of assault and one count of disorderly conduct, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Local reporting from The Vindicator, citing jail records, described the assault counts as felony assault. As of Sunday night, no bond had been set on the assault charges, and the disorderly conduct charge was listed as own-recognizance.
These are only the initial booking charges. The sheriff’s office said detectives are continuing to investigate and will file formal charges after consulting the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office. The Ohio State Highway Patrol is separately conducting a threat assessment, which could lead to additional or upgraded charges depending on what investigators conclude about his intent. As of Sunday night, the case had not yet appeared in online court records and it was unclear whether Havas had retained an attorney.
Why Is the Amy Acton Attack Trending?
The story broke on a holiday weekend in the middle of one of the most closely watched governor’s races in the country. Acton is running against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, who has President Trump’s endorsement and a record fundraising haul, with the election just weeks away in November. Ramaswamy was also at the Canfield Fair on Sunday and campaigned after the incident.
The attack also lands against a backdrop of rising political violence in the US, following the 2024 assassination attempt on Donald Trump, the 2025 killings of Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and commentator Charlie Kirk, and a further attempt on the president at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in April 2026. Condemnation came quickly from across the aisle, including Governor Mike DeWine, Senator Jon Husted and Ramaswamy’s campaign.
How Ohio’s County Jail System Works
Havas is being held in a county jail, not a prison, and the difference matters. County jails in the US hold people who have been arrested and are awaiting court appearances, as well as people serving short sentences, usually under a year. Prisons, by contrast, are run by state departments of corrections or the Federal Bureau of Prisons and house people convicted of more serious felonies. You can read more in our guide to the difference between jail and prison.
Because Havas was arrested on a Sunday before a federal holiday, his first court appearance was pushed back. He is expected to appear in Mahoning County Court in Canfield on Tuesday, September 8, since the court is closed for Labor Day. At that arraignment a judge will formally read the charges and decide on bond. Our guide to how bail works in jail explains what happens next, and our page on the jail release process covers what release looks like if bond is posted.
If the assault counts are ultimately charged as felonies and he is convicted, Havas could face time in an Ohio state prison rather than county jail. In Ohio, felonious assault is generally a second-degree felony carrying a potential sentence of two to eight years. Simple assault, by contrast, is typically a first-degree misdemeanor with a maximum of 180 days in jail. Which version prosecutors pursue will depend on the injuries and the evidence about intent. For a sense of what short-term custody involves, see our page on what jail is like.
Current Status: Is Patrick Havas Still in Jail?
Yes. As of Monday, September 7, 2026, Patrick Havas remains in custody at the Mahoning County Jail with no bond set on the assault charges. His first court appearance is expected on Tuesday, September 8. The Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol are still investigating, and formal charges could change once the prosecutor’s office reviews the case. This page will be updated as the case develops.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Patrick Havas in jail?
He was arrested on September 6, 2026, at the Canfield Fair in Ohio after allegedly shoving through a crowd toward governor candidate Amy Acton while carrying two handguns, a Taser and brass knuckles. He was booked on two assault charges and one count of disorderly conduct.
Was Amy Acton injured?
No. Acton was not hurt. At least two other people were knocked to the ground and injured, including an elderly man who reportedly hit his head.
Did Patrick Havas pull a gun?
No. The Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office said the two handguns and brass knuckles were recovered after his arrest and that no weapon was brandished or removed from its holster.
When is Patrick Havas’s court date?
He is expected to appear in Mahoning County Court in Canfield on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, because the court was closed on Labor Day. A judge will address the charges and bond at that hearing.
Could Patrick Havas go to prison?
Possibly. If the assault counts are pursued as felonies and he is convicted, he could receive a state prison sentence. Misdemeanor assault in Ohio carries a maximum of 180 days in county jail. Investigators have said more charges may be filed after the threat assessment is complete.