Former U.S. Olympic canoeist David Hearn was arrested at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after he says he touched a section of blue liner that was already peeling from the newly renovated site.
Hearn, 67, was arrested by U.S. Park Police on Friday, June 19, on a misdemeanor charge of destruction of government property, according to People.
The arrest came shortly before President Donald Trump publicly blamed “vandalism” for problems at the pool, where a recent blue coating had begun peeling after the water turned green with algae.
Hearn denies damaging the site. He told The Washington Post that he did not destroy, break or peel anything and was being put in handcuffs before he understood what was happening.
Hearn Says He Touched a Loose Section of Liner
People reported that Hearn stopped at the Reflecting Pool while in the middle of a long bike ride and noticed a partially detached piece of liner in the water. The pool had recently been painted “American Flag Blue” as part of a renovation, but photos and reports in recent days have shown green water and pieces of blue coating pulling away from the basin.
Hearn said he reached into the water to feel the loose section and did not remove it. “I didn’t vandalize anything,” he told The Washington Post. He said the piece was still attached to the bottom when he touched it.
The Associated Press reported that Hearn told the outlet he briefly touched a chunk of coating that remained attached to the side of the pool and let go after a park worker told him to. He said he was then detained by National Guard troops and Park Police for five hours before being released Friday night.
People reported that Hearn is scheduled to appear in court on July 9.
The Arrest Was Filmed and Spread Online
People reported that conservative journalist Emily Miller posted footage on X showing Hearn being detained near the pool. Miller claimed Hearn had grabbed a hose being used by National Park Service workers to clear algae.
Hearn denied touching the hose as Miller described, though he acknowledged to The Washington Post that his bicycle may have come in contact with it. The misdemeanor charge accuses him of destruction of government property, but Hearn’s account is that he only touched a piece of coating that was already loose.
Trump Blamed Vandals for the Pool’s Problems
Trump posted about the Reflecting Pool after Hearn’s arrest and claimed vandals had damaged the newly renovated site. People reported that he wrote on Truth Social that vandals had hurt the newly installed inside surface and claimed something similar to chemicals had been used in the pool.
The Associated Press reported that Trump blamed vandalism for the pool’s problems without offering details to substantiate the claim. The outlet also reported that agencies responsible for law enforcement and upkeep on the National Mall, including U.S. Park Police, the National Park Service and the Interior Department, did not respond to requests for comment.
The Associated Press reported that the $14 million-plus rehabilitation project included a blue lining meant to improve the pool’s reflection of the Washington Monument. After the renovated pool was unveiled, the water turned green again from algae, workers treated it with chemicals, and the painted blue lining began to peel.
Hearn Competed in Three Summer Olympics
Hearn is a former U.S. Olympic canoe slalom athlete who competed at the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics, according to Team USA.
Team USA lists him as a two-time world champion in the C1 event, with gold medals in 1985 and 1995, along with five silver medals at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships. The Washington Post reported that he retired from active competition in 2002.