The Democratic candidate was unharmed, but several people were reportedly injured before officers arrested a suspect allegedly carrying a gun, a stun weapon, and brass knuckles.

An armed man was arrested Sunday after allegedly lunging toward Democratic Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton during a campaign appearance at the Canfield Fair, knocking people to the ground and injuring multiple attendees.

Acton, the former director of the Ohio Department of Health, was not injured.

Local authorities identified the suspect as 38-year-old Patrick Havas of Canfield. He was booked into the Mahoning County Jail on charges of felony assault and disorderly conduct, according to The Vindicator.

Havas had not entered a plea as of Sunday evening. No bond had been set, and he was expected to make an initial court appearance Tuesday following the Labor Day holiday.

Authorities had not publicly announced a possible motive or said whether the candidate was deliberately targeted. The precise number and condition of those injured also remained unclear.

Man Pushes Toward Acton

The confrontation unfolded as Acton visited the Mahoning County Democratic Party’s booth at the popular fair in Canfield.

A man “tried to forcefully push himself toward Dr. Acton as she was speaking and injured other attendees,” Republican Gov. Mike DeWine said in a statement.

Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman Chris Anderson said the suspect knocked campaign volunteers to the ground before law enforcement officers stopped and arrested him.

“While attending the Canfield Fair, an armed individual lunged at Dr. Acton, injuring multiple people,” Acton campaign communications director Addie Bullock said.

“Dr. Acton and Eric are grateful for the swift and decisive action of law enforcement and are praying for the recovery of those injured,” Bullock continued. “This kind of violence has no place in Ohio. Dr. Acton will always stand up to the chaos, hate, and vitriol that pits us against one another.”

A photograph shared on social media reportedly showed Acton checking on an injured person following the confrontation.

Ohio State Highway Patrol officers had been providing security for Acton and responded alongside local law enforcement personnel.

Suspect Allegedly Carried Several Weapons

Anderson initially said the suspect was discovered to have “multiple weapons” when he was arrested.

Mahoning County Democratic Party Vice Chairwoman Maria Pappas provided additional details to The Vindicator, saying officers found a gun, a stun weapon, and brass knuckles on the suspect.

Law enforcement authorities had not independently released a complete inventory of the weapons or explained whether the gun was loaded, legally carried, or displayed during the alleged assault.

There were also no initial reports that the suspect fired a weapon or directly struck Acton.

Anderson cautioned against reaching conclusions about the man’s intentions before investigators complete their work.

“I don’t know why he was there — that’s for law enforcement to discover, but I’m grateful that the Ohio State Highway Patrol and local law enforcement officials stopped the situation before anything could happen, if malice was his intent,” Anderson said.

The incident remained under investigation by the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies.

According to the local newspaper’s review of online court records, Havas had a 2008 disorderly conduct conviction in Mahoning County. A petty-theft charge filed during that case was dismissed.

Republicans Condemn Confrontation

The alleged attack brought immediate condemnation from Republicans across Ohio, including Acton’s general election opponent, Vivek Ramaswamy.

“Candidates should be able to meet with voters without having to worry about threats or violence,” Ramaswamy campaign communications director Connie Luck said. “What happened today is completely unacceptable and has no place in politics, and we hope that no one was hurt.”

Ramaswamy was also campaigning at the Canfield Fair on Sunday.

DeWine said he spoke with Acton after the incident and confirmed that she was safe.

“Fran and I are thankful that Dr. Amy Acton was not hurt, and we send our thoughts to those who were injured,” the governor said. “We spoke to Dr. Acton this afternoon, and she said to share with Ohioans that she is OK.”

“We are grateful for the quick work of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and other law enforcement on the scene,” DeWine added. “Violence or the threat of violence at political or public events is always unacceptable. This case is now in the hands of law enforcement and will be investigated thoroughly.”

Republican Sen. John Husted said he and his wife were “disturbed by the attempted attack” and grateful for the officers’ response.

“There is no place for this kind of behavior, and it must never be tolerated,” Husted said.

High-Stakes Race Enters Final Weeks

Acton is running against Ramaswamy in one of the country’s most closely watched gubernatorial contests.

The Democrat became a prominent — and polarizing — statewide figure while directing Ohio’s public health response during the COVID-19 pandemic. She resigned from that position in 2020 following intense controversy over business closures, stay-at-home orders, and other restrictions.

Ramaswamy, a biotechnology entrepreneur and former presidential candidate, has secured President Donald Trump’s endorsement and built a substantial fundraising advantage.

The Canfield incident occurred as both candidates entered the final weeks of campaigning before the November election.

Investigators had not publicly established the suspect’s motive or announced charges specifically involving an attempt to harm Acton.

This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

Lindsey Isaacs spent 13 days in jail and faced eight felony charges after investigators focused on her black Dodge Durango despite a mismatched partial plate, contradictory paint evidence, and the vehicle’s apparent lack of crash damage.

A Florida woman spent seven months under suspicion and nearly two weeks behind bars after a Flock license plate camera search led state troopers to the wrong Dodge Durango in a triple-fatal hit-and-run investigation.

Lindsey Brooke Isaacs, 23, faced the possibility of life in prison after the Florida Highway Patrol charged her with eight felonies, including three counts of vehicular homicide.

The case eventually collapsed after prosecutors determined that neither Isaacs nor her vehicle was involved. Authorities arrested another woman hours after dismissing every charge against Isaacs.

Isaacs has now filed a federal lawsuit against two Florida Highway Patrol officers, accusing them of making false statements, omitting evidence that pointed away from her, and securing a constitutionally invalid arrest warrant.

Her ordeal has become a cautionary example of what can happen when police treat automated license plate reader results as a conclusion rather than an investigative lead requiring independent verification.

The Flock camera apparently did what investigators asked: It found a black Dodge Durango near the crash. The alleged failure came afterward, when officers focused on Isaacs’ vehicle despite evidence that it was not the SUV involved.

Three People Killed on Interstate 4

The case began Oct. 4, 2025, when a Dodge Durango traveling at approximately 112 mph struck several vehicles on Interstate 4 near DeBary, Florida, before fleeing.

The chain-reaction crash killed Flagler County Deputy Administrator Jorge Salinas, his wife, Nancy Salinas, and motorcyclist Joaquin Deno. A fourth person was seriously injured.

Witnesses identified the fleeing vehicle as a Dodge Durango. At least one initial description called it black.

Investigators searched data collected by Flock Safety’s automated license plate readers and found Isaacs’ black Durango traveling near the crash scene around the relevant time.

Police traced the license plate to Isaacs and located the SUV outside her apartment within hours. An investigator wrote in a search warrant application that the vehicle showed damage “consistent with” the fatal collision.

Troopers seized the Durango but did not immediately arrest Isaacs. They kept the vehicle impounded for approximately six months as evidence.

Isaacs eventually sued to force the government to return her vehicle. Police arrested her April 17, 2026, shortly after she initiated the legal effort.

Evidence Pointed to a Different SUV

Isaacs’ attorneys say investigators possessed multiple pieces of exculpatory evidence on the day of the crash.

A 911 caller reported a partial license plate number that did not match Isaacs’ tag. The witness also described a red or maroon Durango rather than a black one.

The Ford Focus struck during the crash sustained severe damage and contained red or maroon paint transfer, according to Reason.

A witness said the fleeing Durango’s airbag deployed. Isaacs’ airbag had not.

Her black SUV also appeared virtually new and lacked the extensive damage expected from a high-speed collision involving multiple vehicles.

The federal lawsuit makes an additional claim: Flock data allegedly showed Isaacs’ Durango three miles west of the crash site only two minutes before the collision.

Isaacs’ attorneys argue that the camera evidence should have raised doubts rather than supplied probable cause for an arrest.

Despite those discrepancies, Sgt. Tiffany Jateff allegedly described Isaacs’ vehicle as damaged in the sworn arrest warrant affidavit. The lawsuit says Sgt. Joshua Buday repeated that claim under oath during a bond and pretrial detention hearing.

13 Days Behind Bars

Isaacs was charged with three counts of vehicular homicide, three counts of leaving the scene of a crash involving death, one count of leaving the scene of a crash involving injury, and one count of reckless driving causing serious bodily injury.

She was initially ordered held without bond.

“I was terrified,” Isaacs told Reason. “I didn’t know if I was going to get hurt in there or how I was going to get treated, where I was going to be, how long I would be in there.”

“I didn’t want to be alive,” she added. “It was a nightmare.”

Isaacs spent 13 days in the Volusia County jail before receiving release on $250,000 bail.

Only after her arrest did specialists providing crash reconstruction and investigative support take over the case, according to the Reason report. The evidence against Isaacs quickly unraveled under closer review.

On May 22, prosecutors filed a “no information,” formally declining to prosecute her on any of the eight charges.

The state’s decision cleared Isaacs approximately seven months after the crash, five weeks after her arrest, and 13 days after she first entered jail.

Second Driver Arrested

Later on the same day prosecutors cleared Isaacs, police arrested 47-year-old Alisa Montalvo.

Montalvo was reportedly a friend of Deno’s family and had attended the granddaughter’s birthday party that Deno left shortly before the crash.

Investigators located a red Dodge Durango allegedly containing substantial evidence of both collision damage and attempted concealment.

According to the arrest investigation, paint and window tint on the driver’s side doors did not match the rest of the vehicle. One airbag had been removed, while another had allegedly been stuffed back into a seat.

Montalvo was charged with three counts of vehicular homicide, three counts of leaving the scene of a crash involving death, reckless driving causing serious bodily injury, and tampering with physical evidence.

Lawsuit Accuses Troopers of Fabricating Evidence

Isaacs’ federal lawsuit names Jateff and Buday in their individual capacities.

The complaint asserts federal malicious prosecution claims under the Fourth Amendment, along with state law claims of false arrest, false imprisonment, and malicious prosecution.

Isaacs alleges Jateff fabricated the claim that her Durango had collision damage and omitted important evidence from the arrest application. She accuses Buday of prolonging her detention by adopting the same statements during the bond hearing.

She is seeking compensatory damages for emotional distress, mental anguish, humiliation, reputational damage, and loss of liberty. Her federal claims also seek punitive damages, attorney’s fees, and costs.

“I feel there’s really no way of fixing what they did to me,” Isaacs said after the charges were dismissed. “It will always hurt me. My reputation was ruined. I’m still receiving death threats and hate. It’s very hard.”

Camera Found a Car — Police Built the Case

Flock Safety operates a nationwide network of more than 120,000 cameras across 49 states, according to the company. The cameras photograph vehicles, record their locations, and allow police agencies to search historical sightings.

Flock says its technology helps solve crimes and locate missing people. Critics warn that its national reach turns license plates into tracking devices and allows incomplete or erroneous police information to generate dangerous encounters.

In Isaacs’ case, the central allegation is not that the camera misread her plate. Investigators searched for a vehicle matching a broad description and found her Durango near the scene.

The failure, according to her lawsuit and Reason’s investigation, was treating that result as the foundation of a criminal case while discounting physical evidence, witness information, and a mismatched license plate.

The camera identified a possible car. Police failed to establish that it was the right one.

Gun rights advocates say Patrick “Tate” Adamiak was imprisoned over inert collectibles, but prosecutors and a federal appeals court said the case also involved an illegal machine gun and multiple unregistered destructive devices.

President Donald Trump has pardoned Patrick “Tate” Adamiak, an active-duty Navy sailor sentenced to 20 years in federal prison following a bitterly disputed prosecution involving machine guns, grenade launchers, and inert anti-tank weapons.

The Second Amendment Foundation announced the pardon Friday, declaring that the administration had corrected a grave injustice involving weapons that Adamiak’s supporters describe as nonfunctional collectibles or “toy firearms.”

Adamiak, then a Navy master-at-arms, was convicted in October 2022 of receiving and possessing an unregistered firearm, possessing and transferring a machine gun, and three counts of receiving and possessing unregistered destructive devices.

U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen sentenced him to 20 years in prison in June 2023.

The case became a cause célèbre among gun rights advocates, who accused the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives of transforming inert military surplus items into working weapons for testing and then using those results to help secure a conviction.

Federal prosecutors presented a sharply different account. They said Adamiak had been selling illegal machine guns online and possessed multiple unregistered weapons classified as destructive devices under federal law.

Advocates Called Weapons ‘Merely Toys’

The Second Amendment Foundation said Adamiak was prosecuted for owning two inert RPG-7 variant anti-tank launchers that had holes drilled into their receivers and lacked essential internal components.

According to the organization, an ATF expert added components from functional RPGs until one of the launchers fired a single 7.62x39mm subcaliber training round.

Adamiak’s supporters argued that the government’s test did not prove the items were functional when he acquired or possessed them. They said similar demilitarized launchers remain commercially available without a federal firearms license or National Firearms Act registration.

“In no way, shape or form did Tate deserve to be arrested, much less convicted for owning what are considered merely toy firearms,” said Lee Williams, editor of the foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project.

“We are extremely thankful the administration saw an opportunity to right a wrong and are grateful Tate is now headed home to be with his family,” Williams added.

The organization said Williams published more than 60 articles questioning the evidence, expert testimony, and conduct of federal agents involved in the case.

Case Involved More Than Inert RPGs

The “toy firearms” description reflects the position of Adamiak’s advocates, but the federal case was broader than the two antitank launchers.

According to the Justice Department’s account of the prosecution, the ATF purchased eight illegal machine guns from Adamiak through a confidential source between October 2021 and April 2022.

Agents subsequently searched his Virginia Beach residence and reported recovering 25 additional unregistered firearms, two grenade launchers, and two anti-tank launchers.

Prosecutors said Adamiak operated a business called Black Dog Arsenal and had participated in unregulated firearm sales and transfers since at least 2016.

The weapons underlying the five counts sustained at trial included a PPSh machine gun, an M79 40mm grenade launcher, an M203 40mm grenade launcher, and two RPG-7 variant recoilless antitank projectors.

A jury convicted Adamiak after a four-day trial. The government maintained that the evidence established he knew the relevant items had characteristics that brought them under federal machine gun and destructive device laws.

The pardon eliminates the legal consequences of Adamiak’s federal convictions but does not amount to a judicial ruling that the jury reached the wrong verdict.

Appeals Court Found Double Jeopardy Violation

Adamiak challenged his convictions and sentence before the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

He argued that the indictment was inadequate, the evidence was insufficient, the jury instructions were improper, the statutes were unconstitutionally vague, and his convictions violated the Second Amendment.

The appeals court rejected nearly all those claims in an October 2025 opinion, finding that the government had introduced enough evidence for a rational jury to convict him.

The three-judge panel did, however, agree that two convictions based on the same PPSh machine gun violated the Fifth Amendment’s protection against double jeopardy.

Adamiak had been convicted both of possessing or receiving an unregistered firearm and possessing or transferring a machine gun based on the same conduct. The government conceded that imposing separate punishments for both counts was impermissible.

The court ordered the trial judge to vacate one of those convictions and resentence him. It otherwise affirmed the case, including the remaining convictions involving the grenade launchers and RPG variants.

Trump’s pardon overtakes that continuing resentencing process and clears Adamiak’s federal convictions.

Sailor Had Been Selected for SEAL Training

Adamiak was serving as a Navy E-6 at the time of his arrest. The Second Amendment Foundation said he had also been accepted for Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training, commonly known as BUD/S.

“Tate Adamiak endured every gun owner’s worst nightmare for more than four years,” foundation Executive Director Adam Kraut said.

“While Tate shouldn’t have endured what happened to him in the first place, we are thrilled he has finally received the pardon he deserves,” Kraut added.

The pardon brings Adamiak’s imprisonment to an end, but the case is likely to remain part of the broader political fight over the ATF’s methods and the federal government’s classification of weapons parts, deactivated military equipment, and firearms that can allegedly be restored to working condition.

For Adamiak and his family, the immediate consequence is simpler: After years in federal custody and a sentence that could have kept him imprisoned into his 50s, he is finally coming home.