CANFIELD, Ohio — The registered Republican arrested after forcing his way toward Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton while carrying two pistols and a Taser is the brother of a Republican operative who gave more than $10,000 to Acton’s opponent, Vivek Ramaswamy, TiffinOhio.net has confirmed.
Patrick Havas, 38, of Canfield, was arrested Sunday at the Mahoning County Democratic Party tent at the Canfield Fair after authorities said he pushed through a crowd toward Acton and knocked multiple people to the ground.
His brother is Andrew Havas, a Republican operative and registered Statehouse lobbyist whose political activities became a statewide issue earlier this summer after his criminal history surfaced.
The Daily Beast also independently reported the sibling relationship Sunday evening.
The family connection adds a new layer to an incident already drawing national attention, but there is currently no evidence that Patrick Havas’ actions Sunday were connected to his brother, Andrew Havas’ political activity, his contributions to Ramaswamy or Acton’s previous criticism of those contributions.
Law enforcement has not publicly announced a motive.
Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers intercepted Patrick Havas after he forced his way through the crowd toward Acton, according to an OSHP statement reported by The Washington Post.
“Havas knocked multiple fairgoers over while trying to get towards Dr. Acton, and was found to be in possession of a taser and two pistols,” the patrol said.
Havas was booked into the Mahoning County jail on two counts of assault and one count of disorderly conduct. Acton was not injured.
The incident came less than two months after Acton publicly criticized Ramaswamy over campaign contributions from Patrick’s brother.
TiffinOhio.net reported in July that Andrew Havas gave Ramaswamy’s gubernatorial campaign $10,102.54 through five contributions between February and June 2025.
Campaign-finance records show the contributions included $2,602.54 on Feb. 28, separate $2,000 and $1,000 contributions on April 11, $2,500 on June 5 and $2,000 on June 18. Transparency USA’s compilation of Ohio campaign-finance records also lists $10,102.54 in contributions from Andrew Havas to Ramaswamy.
Acton directly criticized Ramaswamy for accepting the money after Andrew Havas’ criminal history became public.
“Ohioans deserve leaders who exercise good judgment and who put integrity first,” Acton wrote in July. “I find it appalling that Vivek Ramaswamy accepted over $10,000 from Andrew Havas.”
Andrew Havas had also served as U.S. Sen. Jon Husted’s volunteer Franklin County campaign chair before resigning in July after NBC News asked Husted’s campaign about a 2009 guilty plea in Mahoning County.
Andrew Havas, who was 22 at the time of the underlying incident, was originally charged with sexual misconduct with a minor in a case involving a 15-year-old, according to court records previously reviewed by NBC News. The charge was later reduced to misdemeanor assault, to which Havas pleaded guilty in 2009.
He was sentenced to 90 days in jail, fined and ordered to have no contact with the minor.
Husted campaign spokesperson Amy Natoce said at the time that Andrew Havas had not disclosed the case to the campaign.
“Upon learning the facts, we immediately accepted his resignation as a campaign volunteer,” Natoce told NBC News.
Andrew Havas is also registered as an Ohio lobbying agent. State lobbying records currently list multiple organizations for which he is registered as an agent.
Patrick Havas, meanwhile, is listed as a Republican in voter records reviewed by TiffinOhio.net.
Mahoning County Democratic Party Chair Christopher Anderson said Sunday that he did not know why Patrick Havas was at the Democratic Party tent and said determining his intent was a matter for law enforcement.
“I don’t know why he was there — that’s for law enforcement to discover,” Anderson told The Vindicator.
Ramaswamy’s campaign condemned Sunday’s incident.
“Candidates should be able to meet with voters without having to worry about threats or violence. What happened today is completely unacceptable and has no place in politics, and we hope that no one was hurt,” campaign Communications Director Connie Luck said.
Gov. Mike DeWine likewise condemned the incident and said law enforcement would conduct a thorough investigation.
Patrick Havas remained in the Mahoning County jail Sunday evening and is expected to appear in court after the Labor Day holiday.
Authorities have not publicly identified a motive for Sunday’s incident, and no evidence has emerged connecting Patrick Havas’ actions to his brother’s political activities, campaign contributions or Acton’s previous criticism of Andrew Havas.
