Armed man arrested after pushing toward Ohio governor candidate Amy Acton at county fair
A man carrying two firearms was detained at the Canfield Fair on Sunday after pushing through a crowd and knocking down two people during an appearance by Dr. Amy Acton.
Altercation at the Canfield Fair
Dr. Amy Acton, the Democratic nominee for Ohio governor, was interrupted during a campaign speech on Sunday afternoon when an aggressive man pushed through a crowd toward her at the Canfield Fair in Mahoning County. The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. inside a tent operated by the Mahoning County Democratic Party. According to eyewitnesses and local officials, the man began heckling Acton as she addressed attendees. He then forcefully shoved his way forward, knocking two older adults to the ground in the process. Two members of Acton's security detail acted quickly, intercepting the individual, tackling him, and placing him in handcuffs before he could reach the candidate. The confrontation abruptly cut Acton's speech short as spectators and staff rushed to assist the fallen audience members.
Weapons and misdemeanor charges
Following the arrest, Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene reported that the suspect was carrying two concealed firearms at the time of the altercation. Sheriff Greene stated that the suspect never drew or pointed either weapon during the incident. When addressing the suspect's potential motivation, Greene noted that the man appeared intent on aggressively confronting the candidate to ask questions. Authorities announced that the man will face two counts of misdemeanor assault, corresponding to the two attendees who were knocked over in the crowd. Medical personnel evaluated both individuals for injuries at the scene, and both people chose not to seek further hospital treatment. Dr. Acton was not injured in the disturbance, while Mahoning County Democratic Party chairman Chris Anderson reported on social media that volunteers had been knocked down before the suspect was restrained.
- A man pushes through the crowd toward Amy Acton and knocks down two attendees
- Two members of Acton's security detail restrain and handcuff the suspect
- Governor Mike DeWine speaks with Acton and condemns political violence
- Sheriff Jerry Greene announces the suspect carried two firearms and faces assault charges
Reactions from campaigns and state officials
The incident drew condemnation from political leaders across Ohio. Addie Bullock, communications director for Acton's campaign, issued a formal statement describing the confrontation.
While attending the Canfield Fair, an armed individual lunged at Dr. Acton, injuring multiple people.
Bullock stated that Acton and her husband, Eric Acton, were grateful for the decisive police response and were praying for the injured. Republican Governor Mike DeWine spoke with Acton on Sunday afternoon and condemned the encounter in a statement on social media.
Violence or the threat of violence at political or public events is always unacceptable.
Governor DeWine stated that law enforcement will conduct a thorough investigation into the disruption.
Political contest and past threats
The confrontation took place during a competitive race between Acton and Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy for the Ohio governorship. Acton previously served as director of the Ohio Department of Health, playing a central role in guiding the state's coronavirus pandemic response. During that period of strict health mandates, protesters had previously targeted Acton and demonstrated outside her private home. Youngstown City Council member Mike Ray, an Ohio Democratic Party executive committee member who witnessed Sunday's events, described the suspect heckling Acton before knocking attendees down. Local law enforcement agencies, including the Canfield Police Department and the Ohio State Highway Patrol, joined county deputies in assessing the fairground incident.
