Former Olympian David Hearn, 67, was arrested by U.S. Park Police on Friday for allegedly vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. Hearn, a three-time Olympic canoeist, faces a misdemeanor charge of destruction of government property. He claims he merely touched the pool's liner out of curiosity while on a 52-mile bike ride.
Hearn told the Washington Post he noticed the liner was detached and reached down to feel it. 'I didn't vandalize anything. I didn't destroy or break or peel anything,' he said. Video footage posted by journalist Emily Miller showed multiple officers crowding around Hearn in full cycling gear. Miller claimed Hearn grabbed a hose used by National Park Service workers to clear algae from the pool.
The Reflecting Pool has been a point of contention for the Trump administration, which recently renovated it to a 'shining American Blue' color. The pool has since been plagued by green algae, despite ongoing cleanup efforts. President Donald Trump has blamed vandals for the pool's issues and claimed multiple arrests have been made. In a Truth Social post, Trump alleged that vandals used chemicals to damage the pool and that the algae problem is nearly resolved.
Hearn denied touching the hose but acknowledged his bike might have come into contact with it. He was detained by National Guard troops and Park Police after briefly touching a chunk of the pool's liner. Hearn said he was held for five hours before being released. He has a court date scheduled for next month and is seeking legal help.
The National Park Service has not responded to requests for comment on the incident or the broader vandalism claims. The Reflecting Pool's renovation was part of a larger effort to beautify Washington, D.C., under the Trump administration.