Democrat Amy Acton vowed to continue on as a “fierce warrior” in her campaign for Ohio governor Monday, a day after law enforcement officials said an armed man aggressively attempted to confront her at a county fair.“Yes, we had a rough day yesterday,” Acton told the crowd at a Labor Day parade and festival in Cleveland, NBC affiliate WKYC reported.
“I am a fierce warrior in this fight.That’s exactly why I’m running.
I refuse to look the other way like people didn’t look the other way when I was a struggling kid in Youngstown, Ohio.I won’t look the other way, and you are refusing to look the other way.”Acton was not injured during the Sunday incident at Mahoning County’s Canfield Fair, near Youngstown, but several others in the crowd were, officials and witnesses said.
A suspect, Patrick Havas, was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and assault.Havas, 38, could be formally charged as soon as Tuesday, said Gerry Ricciutti, a spokesperson for the Mahoning County sheriff and prosecutor.Amy Acton was back on the campaign trail Monday after the Sunday incident.Jeff Swensen / Getty ImagesOn Sunday, Havas approached the local Democratic Party’s tent, where Acton was speaking, and began pushing his way through the crowd, according to accounts from the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Havas “knocked multiple fairgoers over” while advancing toward Acton, according to the Highway Patrol, which provides a security detail to Acton because of her candidacy for governor.A statement from Acton’s campaign spokesperson, Addie Bullock, said the suspect “lunged” at her.
Law enforcement officials reported finding two handguns, a set of brass knuckles and a Taser on Havas after arresting him.He did not brandish the weapons during the incident, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Officials have not yet offered their thoughts on what motivated the confrontation.Acton faces Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in the...