In brief
David "Davey" Hearn, a three‑time Olympian, was arrested after police alleged he touched a section of the Reflecting Pool’s newly painted surface. Hearn insists he merely lifted his glove to check a delaminating patch and did not damage the pool. President Trump posted on Truth Social claiming multiple vandals and calling for repairs, while the pool’s recent $13 million makeover has still faced algae, peeling paint and structural problems. Hearn called the arrest arbitrary, and the case highlights ongoing tensions over the upkeep of one of Washington’s most iconic landmarks.
The Washington District Police arrested 67‑year‑old slalom canoeist David "Davey" Hearn on Friday after he was observed near the Reflecting Pool’s edge. Police officers alleged he touched a patch of rubbery material that had delaminated from the pool’s bottom. Hearn told reporters that he simply lifted his glove to brush the area, not to remove or damage the paint.
Hearn’s account, released on BBC News, states he was detained for about five hours, handcuffed and denied the right to call. He calls the charge of “destruction of government property” an arbitrary prosecution and insists that the pool’s condition did not change during his brief contact.
President Donald Trump’s post on Truth Social on Saturday claimed that US Park Police had arrested several individuals for vandalising the Reflecting Pool. Trump urged that work would begin “immediately on its repair” and suggested that the pool might need to be drained to restore the newly installed blue paint.
The Reflecting Pool, running 2,030‑ft between the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, has faced a long history of leaks, algae growth and structural issues. A $13 million refurbishment finished last month has nonetheless seen paint peeling and green patches of algae. The pool’s upkeep has become a point of contention in federal discussions of the Capitol’s aesthetic legacy.
Hearn, a two‑time world champion and former Olympian, had been curious about the materials used on the pool’s surface. He took a picture of the peeling paint minutes before his arrest and later told the Washington Post that he had only touched the material briefly. He described himself as a victim of an "arbitrary, capricious prosecution".
