Former U.S. Olympian David Hearn was arrested on Friday (June 19) for allegedly vandalizing the Washington D.C. Reflecting Pool. The 67-year-old, who competed in canoe slalom in three Summer Olympics, was detained by U.S. Park Police on a misdemeanor charge of destruction of government property. Hearn was reportedly on a 52-mile bike ride when he stopped at the Lincoln Memorial to view the newly renovated pool.
Hearn claims he merely touched a piece of the pool’s liner that was already detached, and denies causing any damage. “I didn’t destroy or break or peel anything,” he told The Washington Post. He was released after being held for five hours and is scheduled to appear in D.C. Superior Court on July 9.
The incident occurred amid controversy surrounding the pool’s recent $13 million renovation, which has faced issues like peeling paint and algae blooms. President Donald Trump has accused vandals of sabotaging the refurbishment, although no evidence has been provided to support these claims. In a Truth Social post, Trump blamed “Radical Left Lunatics” for the damage and stated that law enforcement is actively investigating.
Hearn believes he is being made a political example due to the high-profile nature of the controversy. He has reportedly received death threats since the arrest. WUSA9 reported that other passers-by have been seen pulling paint from the pool without facing charges. The Reflecting Pool’s issues have raised questions about the renovation’s cost and effectiveness.
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