The man accused of lunging at Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton at the Canfield Fair will not face felony charges, Mahoning County Prosecutor Lynn Maro announced Tuesday. The decision comes as the only video evidence of the incident was recorded by the suspect, Patrick Havas.
Maro stated that the Acton campaign had requested attendees stop recording shortly before the alleged incident, leaving investigators with limited footage. "So, at this point, the only video we have is the defendant’s. And what's that showing certainly doesn't support filing felony charges," Maro told reporters.
The video reportedly shows Havas walking into a tent where Acton was, calling out her name, before being intercepted by Ohio Highway Patrol officers. His phone was then dropped or tossed, according to the prosecutor.
Havas was initially booked on misdemeanor charges including assault and disorderly conduct. An additional misdemeanor charge of inducing panic was added during his arraignment, where he pleaded not guilty. The prosecutor's office confirmed that Havas never made close contact with Acton.
Havas, a local resident, has a prior record, including a 2008 arrest for petty theft and disorderly conduct, though the theft charge was later dismissed. He was placed under a $5,000 bond and ordered to surrender any weapons.
Acton, the former director of the Ohio Department of Health, is running against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in the upcoming gubernatorial election. The incident occurred while Acton was campaigning at the fair. The Acton campaign released a statement expressing gratitude for law enforcement's swift action and condemning the violence, stating, "This kind of violence has no place in Ohio."