A former Olympic athlete says he was arrested simply for touching a loose piece of material at the recently renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool — an incident that unfolded just hours before President Donald Trump publicly claimed vandals were damaging the landmark.
David Carter “Davey” Hearn, a 67-year-old former Olympic canoeist who represented the United States in three Summer Olympics, was arrested by U.S. Park Police on June 19 and charged with misdemeanor destruction of government property.
According to Hearn, he had stopped at the Reflecting Pool during a lengthy bike ride through Washington, D.C., when he noticed something unusual.
The pool, which recently underwent a renovation reportedly costing more than $14 million, has been at the center of controversy after sections of blue liner or coating appeared to peel away only days after the project was completed.
Hearn said he saw a loose flap partially detached from the bottom of the pool and reached into the water to see what it was.
“I didn’t vandalize anything,” Hearn said. “I didn’t destroy or break or peel anything.”
The former Olympian insists the material was already detached and that he never removed or damaged any portion of it.
Arrested Within Moments
Hearn claims he was preparing to leave the area when Park Police officers approached and placed him under arrest.
According to his account, he was detained for nearly five hours before being released later that evening.
“I reached in there, and I was able to grab the end of that flapping piece, the already peeling piece,” he explained. “It was still attached to the bottom. I didn’t remove anything.”
A court appearance is scheduled for July 9.
Reflecting Pool Renovation Faces Growing Scrutiny
The arrest comes as questions continue to swirl around the highly publicized renovation project ordered by President Trump.
The historic Reflecting Pool was recently repainted what Trump described as “American Flag Blue” as part of an effort to restore and beautify the National Mall.
However, the project has already faced criticism after reports of algae blooms, green water discoloration, and sections of material appearing to peel from the pool floor surfaced shortly after completion.
Experts have suggested that coating failures can occur for a variety of reasons, including adhesion problems, environmental conditions, or issues during installation.
Trump Blames Vandals
Hours after Hearn’s arrest, Trump took to Truth Social, claiming vandals were targeting the newly renovated landmark.
“We’ve had some real problems with Vandalism at the beautiful Reflecting Pool,” the president wrote.
Trump alleged that individuals were attempting to damage both the pool’s interior surface and surrounding grounds, comparing the situation to previous acts of vandalism reported at the National Mall.
In a follow-up post, Trump said authorities had arrested multiple people in connection with damage to the Reflecting Pool and warned that offenders could face serious legal consequences.
A Case Drawing National Attention
The unusual arrest has quickly become a flashpoint in the broader debate surrounding the Reflecting Pool renovation.
Supporters of Hearn argue that touching a piece of already-detached material does not constitute vandalism, while others say authorities were justified in protecting a newly restored national landmark.
With Hearn’s court date approaching and ongoing questions surrounding the renovation’s condition, the incident is likely to remain in the spotlight in the weeks ahead.
